MOSCOW (MRC) -- Eastman's care additives business has announced the completion of a significant expansion of its tertiary amine capacity, primarily DIMLA 1214, at both its Ghent, Belgium, and Pace, Florida, manufacturing sites, said the company.
The Ghent expansion has led to an increase in capacity, while the Pace expansion has improved production flow, making it the world's largest tertiary amine unit. Demand for tertiary amines had increased because of rising consumer demand that was caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Eastman said.
"We've seen a significant increase in tertiary amine demand, partially due to structural changes in consumer habits related to the global pandemic, and are committed to serving our customers and meeting global consumer needs," said Robert Ash, product director for Eastman care additives. "I want to thank our customers for their patience and partnership over the past year as we executed these expansions."
Ash also thanked the Eastman engineering staff and manufacturing teams that completed the projects safely in an accelerated timeline during a global pandemic.
Eastman did not disclose the size of the expansions or their costs.
The projects increased capacity at Ghent and improved production flow at Pace, making it the world's largest tertiary amine unit, Eastman said. The projects expanded output of mostly dimethyldodecylamine 1214 (DIMLA 1214).
Tertiary amines are used to make surfactants in liquid dish soap, hard-surface cleaners and antibacterial wipes and sprays.
As per MRC, Eastman is targeting for a 2023 groundbreaking on its proposed plastics recycling project in France. The company has yet to decide where in France the project will be built. The methanolysis-based project, first announced on 17 January, will process up to 160,000 tonnes/year of hard-to-recycle polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste. Startup of production is expected in 2025.
According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PET consumption remained steady in December 2021 year on year. December estimated PET consumption totalled 67,880 tonnes (67,710 tonnes in December 2020).
Eastman is a multinational chemical company serving customers in approximately 100 countries. Sales in 2015 amounted to around USD9.6 Billion. The company is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA. The company employs approximately 15 thousand people around the world.
MRC