DuPont Dow starts polyolefin elastomer production at Louisiana site

WILMINGTON, Del. (June 20) — DuPont Dow Elastomers has begun production at its 135,000-metric-ton-per-year polyolefin elastomers plant in Plaquemine, La., and announced the development of six new grades of its Engage-brand TPE. The start-up of production in May brings the company's capacity for its Engage product line to 220,000 tons, DuPont Dow said. Output from the new plant will include six new grades of Engage for automotive TPO and interiors, wire and cable and consumer applications, according to Jane Austin, global director for this business. These ethylene-butene elastomers will complement existing ethylene-octene materials in the Engage range, she said. Production started at the Plaquemine complex after a two-year, $150 million construction and commissioning project. DuPont Dow originally announced its intention in 1999 to build this capacity, but didn't break ground until 2001.