The Urethane Blog
June 9, 2021
Bio-BDO venture by Cargill and Helm
9 June 2021 – 0 Submitted by Andrew Warmington
Agribusiness giant Cargill and German chemical marketing and distribution firm Helm have formed a joint venture called Qore and will invest $300 million to build the first commercial-scale, renewable 1,4-butanediol (BDO) facility in the US. This will be located at Cargill’s biotechnology campus and corn refining operation in Eddyville, Iowa, and should be in operation in 2024.
Qore has licensed Genomatica’s BDO process technology and is using Cargill’s global feedstock supply and fermentation manufacturing expertise to produce at least 65,000 tonnes/year, under the brand name Qira. Helm will work with brand owners, OEMs and their suppliers to incorporate Qira into their products.
Qira is made via the fermentation of plant-based sugars and it is claimed, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 93% compared to the manufacture of the same chemical intermediates from fossil sources. Applications include fibres, biodegradable plastics, polyurethane coatings, sealants and artificial leathers.
https://www.specchemonline.com/bio-bdo-venture-cargill-and-helm
June 9, 2021
Bio-BDO venture by Cargill and Helm
9 June 2021 – 0 Submitted by Andrew Warmington
Agribusiness giant Cargill and German chemical marketing and distribution firm Helm have formed a joint venture called Qore and will invest $300 million to build the first commercial-scale, renewable 1,4-butanediol (BDO) facility in the US. This will be located at Cargill’s biotechnology campus and corn refining operation in Eddyville, Iowa, and should be in operation in 2024.
Qore has licensed Genomatica’s BDO process technology and is using Cargill’s global feedstock supply and fermentation manufacturing expertise to produce at least 65,000 tonnes/year, under the brand name Qira. Helm will work with brand owners, OEMs and their suppliers to incorporate Qira into their products.
Qira is made via the fermentation of plant-based sugars and it is claimed, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 93% compared to the manufacture of the same chemical intermediates from fossil sources. Applications include fibres, biodegradable plastics, polyurethane coatings, sealants and artificial leathers.
https://www.specchemonline.com/bio-bdo-venture-cargill-and-helm
Dow to build MDI distillation and prepolymers facility in Freeport
Marcy de Luna, Houston ChronicleJune 9, 2021Updated: June 9, 2021 11:29 a.m. Comments
The chemical maker Dow said Wednesday that it will build a methylene diphenyl isocyanate distillation and prepolymers facility at its manufacturing site in Freeport, and shut down its polyurethane assets at the company’s La Porte site.
Methylene diphenyl isocyanate is a chemical used primarily to manufacture polyurethane. Polyurethanes are used in foams, insulation, textiles and automotive manufacturing.
Upon completion of the new Freeport MDI facility in 2023, the company will shut down its polyurethane assets at the La Porte site, according to the release.
Dow, headquartered in Michigan, operates a facility in Deer Park as well as the 139-acre facility in La Porte, which has 225 Dow employees.
In 1985, Dow purchased the La Porte facility, built in 1960 by the Carwin Company of North Haven, Conn., to produce isocyanates, used in the production of automobiles, boats, athletic footwear, home insulation, appliances, clothing, ice chests, cosmetics, pet food, pharmaceuticals, toothbrushes, dyes, paints and vitamins.
In 1962, the La Porte facility was purchased by the Upjohn Company and expanded to include polyurethane production.
Jane Palmieri, president of Dow’s Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure operating segment, said in the release that the integration of MDI at the company’s Freeport site “creates a cost competitive supply of key upstream polyurethane raw materials, ensures a reliable supply position to support our growth in downstream high-value polyurethane markets and delivers a more sustainable production process.”
Palmieri also said the investment further enables Dow to support downstream systems customers’ growth.
Dow to build MDI distillation and prepolymers facility in Freeport, Texas
Capacity to support and advance downstream systems growth in construction, consumer, and industrial systems markets; Dow to exit and shut down its polyurethane assets at La Porte, Texas operations
Midland, Mich. – June 09, 2021 – Dow (NYSE: DOW) announced today plans to build an integrated MDI distillation and prepolymers facility at its world-scale manufacturing site in Freeport, Texas. This investment supports increasing demand for downstream polyurethane systems products and advances Dow’s leading positions in attractive applications in construction, consumer, and industrial markets that are growing above GDP.
The new Freeport MDI facility will replace Dow’s current North America capacity in La Porte, Texas, and will also be capable of supplying an additional 30 percent of product to Dow’s customers. In coordination with the start-up of the new MDI facility, expected in 2023, Dow will shut down its polyurethane assets at the La Porte site.
“This MDI investment optimizes our existing asset infrastructure and enhances our global polyurethanes leadership position, further enabling us to support downstream systems customers’ growth,” said Jane Palmieri, president of Dow’s Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure operating segment. “The back integration at the Freeport site creates a cost competitive supply of key upstream polyurethane raw materials, ensures a reliable supply position to support our growth in downstream high-value polyurethane markets and delivers a more sustainable production process.”
The new facility in Freeport will reduce Dow’s carbon footprint and water usage by:
- eliminating the need for the generation of thermal power by utilizing existing thermal energy from the Freeport site,
- reducing water intake and wastewater discharge (through production efficiencies), and
- eliminating the need for transport of raw materials.
Dow’s extensive Polyurethane Systems franchise upgrades key polyurethane components in order to produce rigid, semi-rigid and flexible foams, and coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers and composites for applications that range from industrial and infrastructure solutions, to consumer comfort solutions in flooring, furniture, bedding and footwear, to automotive solutions for vehicle interior, and energy-efficient insulation materials.
Dow to build MDI distillation and prepolymers facility in Freeport
Marcy de Luna, Houston ChronicleJune 9, 2021Updated: June 9, 2021 11:29 a.m. Comments
The chemical maker Dow said Wednesday that it will build a methylene diphenyl isocyanate distillation and prepolymers facility at its manufacturing site in Freeport, and shut down its polyurethane assets at the company’s La Porte site.
Methylene diphenyl isocyanate is a chemical used primarily to manufacture polyurethane. Polyurethanes are used in foams, insulation, textiles and automotive manufacturing.
Upon completion of the new Freeport MDI facility in 2023, the company will shut down its polyurethane assets at the La Porte site, according to the release.
Dow, headquartered in Michigan, operates a facility in Deer Park as well as the 139-acre facility in La Porte, which has 225 Dow employees.
In 1985, Dow purchased the La Porte facility, built in 1960 by the Carwin Company of North Haven, Conn., to produce isocyanates, used in the production of automobiles, boats, athletic footwear, home insulation, appliances, clothing, ice chests, cosmetics, pet food, pharmaceuticals, toothbrushes, dyes, paints and vitamins.
In 1962, the La Porte facility was purchased by the Upjohn Company and expanded to include polyurethane production.
Jane Palmieri, president of Dow’s Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure operating segment, said in the release that the integration of MDI at the company’s Freeport site “creates a cost competitive supply of key upstream polyurethane raw materials, ensures a reliable supply position to support our growth in downstream high-value polyurethane markets and delivers a more sustainable production process.”
Palmieri also said the investment further enables Dow to support downstream systems customers’ growth.
Dow to build MDI distillation and prepolymers facility in Freeport, Texas
Capacity to support and advance downstream systems growth in construction, consumer, and industrial systems markets; Dow to exit and shut down its polyurethane assets at La Porte, Texas operations
Midland, Mich. – June 09, 2021 – Dow (NYSE: DOW) announced today plans to build an integrated MDI distillation and prepolymers facility at its world-scale manufacturing site in Freeport, Texas. This investment supports increasing demand for downstream polyurethane systems products and advances Dow’s leading positions in attractive applications in construction, consumer, and industrial markets that are growing above GDP.
The new Freeport MDI facility will replace Dow’s current North America capacity in La Porte, Texas, and will also be capable of supplying an additional 30 percent of product to Dow’s customers. In coordination with the start-up of the new MDI facility, expected in 2023, Dow will shut down its polyurethane assets at the La Porte site.
“This MDI investment optimizes our existing asset infrastructure and enhances our global polyurethanes leadership position, further enabling us to support downstream systems customers’ growth,” said Jane Palmieri, president of Dow’s Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure operating segment. “The back integration at the Freeport site creates a cost competitive supply of key upstream polyurethane raw materials, ensures a reliable supply position to support our growth in downstream high-value polyurethane markets and delivers a more sustainable production process.”
The new facility in Freeport will reduce Dow’s carbon footprint and water usage by:
- eliminating the need for the generation of thermal power by utilizing existing thermal energy from the Freeport site,
- reducing water intake and wastewater discharge (through production efficiencies), and
- eliminating the need for transport of raw materials.
Dow’s extensive Polyurethane Systems franchise upgrades key polyurethane components in order to produce rigid, semi-rigid and flexible foams, and coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers and composites for applications that range from industrial and infrastructure solutions, to consumer comfort solutions in flooring, furniture, bedding and footwear, to automotive solutions for vehicle interior, and energy-efficient insulation materials.
June 7, 2021
Tempur Sealy expands U.S. manufacturing capacity with Indiana plant
Jun. 07, 2021 4:38 PM ETTempur Sealy International, Inc. (TPX)Tempur Sealy International, Inc. (TPX)By: Aakash Babu, SA News Editor
- Tempur Sealy International (NYSE:TPX) announces that it has selected Crawfordsville, Indiana as the site for its previously-announced third domestic foam-pouring plant as part of its U.S. expansion plans.
- The new state-of-the-art plant is expected to be the largest Tempur Sealy manufacturing facility in the world.
- The construction on the 130-acre site is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2021. Construction will be funded from operating cash flow.
- The first phase is planned for about 700K square feet, with the ability to double its capacity over time and to expand to a final size of ~1M square feet in the future.
- Production is expected to begin in 2023, and Tempur Sealy plans to hire about 300 local employees to staff the facility.
- “The facility will have the capabilities to manufacture a wide variety of bedding products and components for branded and non-branded operations, including Tempur-Pedic, Sealy, Stearns & Foster and OEM mattresses,” CEO Scott Thompson said.
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