Styron implements latex capacity expansion

Styron is expanding its latex capacity with a new reactor at its Zhangjiagang, China, production facility. This expansion will mainly support the demand for latex in China’s paper and paperboard industry, forecast to grow in the next five years. 

“The paper and paperboard industries have been using Styron’s latex chemistries for innovative binder coatings for more than 60 years,” said, James Mingyu Ni, Styron Latex Business Director for Asia Pacific. In the past five years, Styron has been involved in the startup of 80 percent of the new coated paper and board mills in China, helping customers determine optimal product formulations for their paper coating challenges. 

The new reactor, expected to commence production in the second quarter of 2015, will be Styron’s fourth unit of its kind at Zhangjiagang. It will serve mainly the paper and paperboard and also carpet industries, and complement Styron’s other latex production facilities in the Asia Pacific region in Korea and Indonesia. 

Zhangjiagang is the ideal location for Styron to expand its latex production and offerings in the Asia Pacific region. The company has been operating latex plants on this site for many years, and will continue to benefit from its strategic location, local resources, employees and community support.