Eliokem refurbishes headquarters

AKRON (April 3)—Eliokem Inc., which along with parent Eliokem S.A.S. was spun-off from Goodyear in late 2001, is in the midst of refurbishing and expanding its U.S. headquarters in Akron, adding new research and development laboratories, and putting tools in place to become more efficient as it continues to boost its offerings. It also plans to add equipment at its 60,000-sq.-ft. U.S. manufacturing facility and hire people at both its headquarters and the plant. About eight employees have been added in the last three months and roughly another 20 will come on board in 2002, giving the company about 80 employees. Eliokem and its parent have a combined work force of approximately 450. Although Goodyear sold the operation to Littlejohn & Co. L.L.C., a private equity firm, on Dec. 28, the company's R&D operations still are housed with Goodyear's Specialty Chemicals business in Akron. The firm's new R&D laboratories should be up and operating within two months.