TIANJIN, China—Huntsman Corp. has inaugurated its first systems house in Northern China, strategically positioning the company for growth and signaling a stronger commitment to the country, according to Kenny Pan, president of Huntsman Polyurethanes in APAC.
The new plant, managed by Huntsman Composite Materials (Tianjin), is located at the city's Nangang Industrial Zone. Huntsman invested about $32.5 million in the facility, which will have an annual capacity of 70,000 metric tons when in full operation.
Contractors broke ground in October 2018, and the plant originally was scheduled to come on stream in early 2020.
Huntsman said output from the site will include formulations based around its Terol polyester polyols. The site also will make pentane, used for blowing agents.
The company said that Terol polyols contain 60 percent recycled polyethylene terephthalate. Huntsman said it consumes 1.4 billion plastic bottles globally each year to make the material.
The company has developed 20 polyols under the label, seven of which have received Underwriters Laboratories' Environment certification.