LIVORNO, Italy.—Trinseo has ceased manufacturing at Livorno, which produces latex binders.
The company said on Oct. 6 that its completed the previously announced closure in response to styrene-butadiene latex market conditions within Europe.
The European paper coatings industry is now seeing a significant decline in demand ultimately impacting the SB latex market, Trinseo said.
“As the paper market continues to decline in Italy and across Europe, rationalization of SB latex assets is necessary to maintain the competitiveness of our latex binders business,” said Jan Muller, global business director for latex binders.
“This change will bring our production capacity more closely into balance with demand for SB latex in paper coating applications.”
Trinseo reduced European latex capacity by 80,000 dry tons in 2013 through asset changes at its sites in Hamina, Finland; Rheinmunster, Germany; and Terneuzen, Netherlands.
Trinseo said that it would continue to invest in the latex binders business particularly applications related to adhesives and construction.