28 March 2007 – Dow Polyurethanes is raising polyols capacity at Terneuzen in the Netherlands by 180,000tpa as part of a wider European investment.
Dow said global demand for polyols continues to rise as the use of rigid, flexible and moulded foam products, as well as formulated systems continues to grow, particularly in automotive, appliance, bedding and furniture applications.
The polyols boost is supported by construction of new capacity of the feedstock hydrogen peroxide-to-propylene oxide (HPPO) in a joint Dow/BASF project facility in Antwerp, Belgium.
At Stade in Germany, Dow has also completed a 40,000tpa expansion of capacity for propylene oxide, another key raw material used in the production of polyols and propylene glycol. It will now carry out a 45,000tpa expansion for propylene glycol.
Dow Polyurethanes business vice president, Pat Dawson, said: “Europe is a critical region for us and our back-integration in raw materials for polyurethanes and propylene glycol is essential to our ability to continue to grow our performance products and maintain our strong business discipline so we can be there for our customers over the long-term.”
