Ashland announces plans to increase production capacity of Natrosol hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) at Hopewell, Virginia instead of the company’s Nanjing, China site as previously communicated. The shift in timing reportedly addresses the immediate industry need for HEC. By leveraging the infrastructure at Hopewell, Ashland expects to increase capacity sooner, according to the company.
“Ashland is changing the sequencing and timing of Natrosol HEC investments based on immediate customer and industry demand and current market trends,” says Min Chong, senior vice president and general manager, specialty additives, Ashland. “Redeploying funds to our Hopewell site now build upon previous capital investments, allowing us to address market demand sooner. The decision underscores our growth strategy while ensuring we can meet our customers’ growing needs and provide additional supply security across the globe.”
Natrosol HEC is a natural product and thickening agent used as a non-ionic rheology modifier in industrial and consumer focused applications, according to the company. The company says the “unprecedented demand” is a result of consumer trends towards more sustainable solutions including water-based paint and a global increase in the building and construction industries and the desire for milder, natural and more sustainable solutions in consumer markets.
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