On 18 February 2021, Ingevity Corporation announced that it will add caprolactone polyol production capabilities at its facility in DeRidder, LA, USA. According to the company, global demand for its Capa suite of caprolactone technologies primarily for industrial equipment, adhesives, coatings, and automotive applications is increasing. The DeRidder upgrades will increase the company’s global polyol production capacity by 40 %.
Ingevity said its caprolactone technologies are made possible through a unique ring-opening polymerisation process, whereby polycaprolactone monomer can be derivatised into proprietary, value-added polyols and thermoplastics. The investment in the DeRidder plant will include installation of monomer storage capacity to not only support the manufacturing of polyol derivatives, but also to streamline and enable bulk monomer shipments to US customers. Ingevity expects construction in DeRidder to begin in the summer of 2021 and the new capacity to be operational by Q1 2022.
“Our Engineered Polymers business continues to experience increasing demand for our Capa portfolio in a variety of demanding, high-performance end-use applications,” said Mike Smith, executive vice president and president, Performance Chemicals, at Ingevity. “We continue to invest in the Capa platform in terms of innovation, production and customer partnerships.” Ingevity’s Warrington, UK-based Capa innovation centre is expected to be operational by the winter of 2021 and will house state-of-the-art equipment and testing capabilities dedicated to accelerating application development for the Capa brand.
“The plant upgrades in DeRidder better position Ingevity to not only meet increased global demand for our Capa technologies, but will improve the supply chain, decrease lead times and enhance overall service for customers across the globe,” said Steve Hulme, Ingevity’s vice president, Engineered Polymers.
Ingevity’s DeRidder plant has been in operation since 1977, employs 187 people and includes production of emulsifiers, rosin and tall oil fatty acid used in a variety of applications such as adhesives, asphalt additives, publication inks, metalworking fluids, drilling fluid additives, oilfield production chemicals, paints and coatings. Ingevity also operates a polycaprolactone production facility in Warrington, UK. Headquartered in North Charleston, SC, USA, the company operates from 25 locations around the world and employs approximately 1,750 people.