Page 18 - Plastics News November 2021
P. 18

CoMPANY NEwS





          Braskem Completes First Year Of  Commercial  ALPLA's New

          Operation (PP) In Texas                                                 Facility In Missouri


                                                                                     lastic manufacturer ALPLA
                                                                                  PNorth America has chosen
                                                                                  Kansas City in Missouri to construct
                                                                                  its new injection moulding facility.
                                                                                  The  new  246,000ft²  plant  is the
                                                                                  company’s first facility dedicated to
                                                                                  injection moulding and its fourth site
                                                                                  in the state. The new Kansas City
                                                                                  site will manufacture products such
                                                                                  as closures. ALPLA North America
                                                                                  managing director James Rooney
                                                                                  said: “We are excited about our new
                                                                                  Kansas City site which represents a
                                                                                  key element of our growth strategy
                                                                                  and our continued commitment to the
             raskem, has successfully completed  to meet the current and future needs of   expansion of our injection moulding
          Bone year of commercial production  our clients. The enhanced production   capabilities.” Expected to commence
          at its newest, world-class 450 000 tpy  capabilities from this new facility proved   operations in the fourth quarter of
          polypropylene production line in La  critically important as supply in the   next year, the facility is strategically
          Porte, Texas, US. Grace provided  North American polypropylene industry   located to better serve customers in
          state-of-the-art PP design technology  faced many challenges during the past   the Midwest and fulfil the demand
          and innovations to meet Braskem’s  year.”“As the leader in polypropylene
          need to manufacture a wide breadth  process technology, the Grace team
          of  polypropylene products for its  proved again that our commitment to
          customers. The La Porte commercial  our customers’ success is the key to our
          production line has the capability to  success,” said Grace’s Laura Schwinn,
          produce a full range of homopolymer,  President, Specialty Catalysts. “We will
          random  copolymer,  and  impact  continue to deliver value to Braskem
          copolymer products. In accordance  with the support needed to run the
          with Grace and Braskem's shared  largest polypropylene production line
          commitment to sustainability, the plant  in the Americas.”Chris Bland, Vice
          was also designed with a focus on key  President Manufacturing, Braskem
          ecological markers such as air emissions,  America, also added: "Grace provided us
          water usage, energy efficiency, and waste  with unparalleled experience and on-site   for its products. It will also expand
          reduction. Mark Nikolich, Braskem  support during the COVID-19 pandemic   ALPLA’s scope of  innovation and
          America CEO, commented: "Braskem's  to make sure that the La Porte facility was   its presence in the US state. ALPLA
          first full year of commercial operations  commissioned to produce all required   received support from commercial
          at our newest world class polypropylene  products  on  a  tight  timeline."Grace   real estate service firm Cushman
          line in La Porte, Texas, exceeded  provided pre-commissioning and start-  & Wakefield and Kansas City Area
          our expectations for quality and  up support to ensure the safe and     Development Council for the project.
          performance at a time in the industry  efficient commissioning of  the first   The project will generate 75 new jobs
          when our clients needed us most. Our  reactor. Subsequently, Braskem was   in the region. Missouri Governor Mike
          decision to invest in North America's  able to go straight into commercial   Parson said: “ALPLA’s decision to
          largest polypropylene production  production with the first reactor and   grow in Missouri demonstrates our
          facility reflects our commitment to our  received continued support to ensure   state’s ability to support companies
          leadership position in the US market and  smooth start-up of the second reactor   with our highly skilled workforce.
          more importantly, enhancing our ability  for impact copolymer production.
                                            18  PLASTICS NEWS  NOVEMBER 2021
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