KINGSPORT, Tenn.—Eastman Chemical Co. has completed a capacity expansion of its Eastman 168 non-phthalate plasticizers at its manufacturing facility in Texas City, Texas.
The expansion increased overall capacity by about 15 percent, the firm said.
“We are pleased with the completion of this important expansion,” said Jon Woods, Plasticizers business unit director. “Since this expansion leveraged an existing asset, it was completed with minimal capital investment.”
Woods said the firm projects global demand for DEHT at 500,000 tons in 2014 and sees continued demand for non-phthalate plasticizers and expects the market to need its next phase of capacity expansion by mid-2016. The next phase would take the firm's full capacity for Eastman 168 to more than 200,000 tons.
Eastman said non-phthalate plasticizers are broadly used in products like toys, childcare items, food contact materials and medical devices. They also are used to provide flexibility to polyvinyl chloride in a variety of applications. The firm serves the building and construction, health and wellness, and a wide range of consumer product industries.
Eastman is a global chemical company that serves customers in about 100 countries and reported revenues of $9.4 billion in 2013. The firm is headquartered in Kingsport with 14,000 employees worldwide.