Company News

Kraton planning Asian HSBC facility
US-based Kraton Performance Polymers, a global producer of styrenic block copolymers or SBCs, expects to start up a 30,000 tonnes/year hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer (HSBC) plant in Asia by 2013.

Strong growth in Kraton's differentiated grades of HSBC's has created the need for additional manufacturing capacity in the region. The company is doing a study and its selection team is expected to make a recommendation by December 2010, followed by a detailed cost assessment by early 2011.

"Kraton has built a strong presence in Asia and such an investment would represent the next step to grow our position in the region - committing the necessary resources, technology and capital," said Kevin M. Fogarty, President/CEO. "The growth in application and technology development, using Kraton's styrenic block copolymers in Asia, continues to accelerate. This new plant should help facilitate this additional growth, demonstrating further our commitment to the region," he said.

In addition, Kraton recently relocated its Shanghai, China, office to a new facility, double the size of the previous location, to better accommodate on-going increase in staff capability, which has more than doubled in China since 2006.