Orion christens new plant in China

Orion S.A. is investing in manufacturing, targeting critical global regions for growth and working to ensure a more balanced regional supply approach.

It's greenfield manufacturing plant in eastern China is proof of that.

Because the new plant—with its two manufacturing lines, adding up to 70,000 metric tons of carbon black capacity—allows for a more regional supply focus.

The company did not disclose the size of the investment in the new facility, nor did it disclose details about the size of the plant.

"The Huaibei facility is a huge milestone for Orion. The state-of-the-art plant enables us to better support our Chinese customers with products that are made in China," Orion CEO Corning Painter in a statement. "Now we can reallocate production lines in the U.S. and Europe so that we can increase supply to customers in those markets."

Orion, a Houston-based specialty chemicals company, christened the new plant in Huaibei, China—a city located within the Anhui province—on Nov. 17. The products it manufactures will serve industries such as rubber, coatings, polymers, printing inks and fiber.

The new plant is Orion's second in China. The other, located in Qingdao, in eastern part of the country, was established in 1994 and manufactures carbon black grades for tires, mechanical rubber goods and specialty applications.