Ameripol Synpol idling SBR plant

PORT NECHES, Texas (May 21)—Ameripol Synpol Corp. said it temporarily is shutting down production at its emulsion SBR in Port Neches because of a "lack of financial support" related to its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The idling process began May 20 and will require several weeks, according to Edwin H. Schmidt Jr., vice president and general manager. Schmidt said the company continues to discuss the sale of the facility to potential buyers, and the shutdown process is being undertaken to make restarting as easy as possible. Schmidt said the company will make every effort to fill customers order on the books from its inventories. Employees not required for the idling process will be laid off temporarily, the company said. Last March, a creditors committee told the bankruptcy court Ameripol Synpol was suffering losses of $600,000 a week.