Croda International Plc plans to build a new production facility at its Chocques manufacturing site in northern France to increase capacity at the site by more than 20 percent by early 2017, including for several types of surfactants.
The company said the extra volume will not only allow it to meet ever increasing demand for some of its surfactants within the Tween, Brij and Myrj ranges, it will also significantly improve flexibility of production across the manufacturing site. According to Crodas website, the Tween surfactant line includes one variant used as a corrosion inhibitor in applications such as hydraulic and metalworking fluids.
Photo: Croda International Plc
Croda International PLC broke ground on a project at its Chocques manufacturing site in northern France for a new production facility to increase capacity there by more than 20 percent by early 2017.
By investing further in one of its core technologies, Croda said it will increase support to European customers in a wide range of industries, from personal care, crop care and health care to specialty lubricants, polymers and applications in oil, gas and mining.
We hope to be supporting further projects here at Chocques to expand capabilities in the near future, Croda CEO Steve Foots said at the groundbreaking ceremony.
During a recent groundbreaking ceremony at the site, the company also officially opened new utilities infrastructure there. This investment in onsite steam generation at Chocques will ensure that production remains highly efficient when the new alkoxylation plant is commissioned, Stuart Arnott, president of operations at Croda, said in a news release. The alkoxylation process creates surfactants.
In May 2015, Croda announced the start of construction of a plant that will produce non-ionic surfactants at its manufacturing facility in New Castle, Delaware. At the time, the company said the chemicals made by the new plant are expected to be used as key building blocks in its lubricant product offerings – such as synthetic base oils, friction modifiers and corrosion inhibitors – in addition to surfactants.