Kuraray build TPE plant in Texas

KASHIMA, Japan (Sept. 5)—Kuraray Co. Ltd. said it will build a 12,000-metric-ton thermoplastic elastomer plant in Pasadena, Texas, and expand the capacity of its Kashima facility. The U.S. factory will cost about $75 million to build, and go on line in the third quarter of 2002, the firm said. Kurary makes hydrogen-modified styrene elastomers, and the expansion will boost its total global capacity to 50,000 tons annually.