LaRoche to idle Louisiana HCFC site

ATLANTA (Aug. 9)—LaRoche Industries Inc. has announced it will idle its Gramercy, La., hydrochlorofluorocarbon 141b plant beginning in mid-August, putting 14 employees temporarily out of work. The company cited rising raw material costs, a sluggish market and reduced sales volume as causes for the shutdown, which will last until conditions improve, LaRoche said. HCFC 141b primarily is used as a blowing agent for foam insulation. LaRoche´s Gramercy plant last year was shut down for a month after a July 5, 1999, explosion at an adjacent Kaiser facility.