Reichhold to add capacity at Illinois plant

DURHAM, N.C. (Sept. 17)—Reichhold Inc. plans to expand capacity for unsaturated polyester resins, used for polyurethane dispersions for the coatings industry, by about 35 percent at its Morris, Ill., plant. Reichhold plans to break ground on the project this summer, with production slated to go online in 2004. The cost of the project was not disclosed. Reichhold, a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan's Dainippon Ink & Chemicals Inc., said the Morris facility is operating at full capacity, necessitating the expansion. The project also will allow Reichhold to automate bulk handling and charging of all solids, implement state-of the-art silica mixing technology and upgrade the process computer control system.