MonoSol expands capacity; starts up new line in Indiana

US-based MonoSol, the world leader in water-soluble films, has opened its US$95 million production plant – the DuneLand facility – in Portage, Indiana. The new plant will expand MonoSol’s manufacturing capacity by 15% to meet increasing global demand for water-soluble films and unit-dose packaging.

“Our business is growing. There are huge opportunities for unit-dose laundry and automatic dishwasher detergents in developed and emerging markets around the world. By partnering with customers to drive innovation, we help develop new consumer and industrial applications while improving established products,” said P. Scott Bening, MonoSol President/CEO, Division Head of the Kuraray WS Film Division. “Our DuneLand Facility features the latest technology to produce the next generation of water-soluble films and deliver the best quality and performance.”

MonoSol serves its global customer base with eight locations on three continents. At DuneLand, one manufacturing line is starting up in 2016, with full-capacity production expected in 2017. A second manufacturing line will be added to DuneLand by 2020. To support continuous 24/7 operation on the two lines, MonoSol will hire more than 150 line operators, maintenance personnel, electricians and mechanics.

MonoSol’s parent company is Japanese firm Kuraray. As the global leader in water-soluble (WS) delivery systems since 1953, MonoSol serves a wide range of applications from unit-dose laundry and automatic dishwasher detergents to mould release technologies for the fabrication of solid surface and composite materials. From its unit-dose market foundation in the agricultural chemical industry, MonoSol is venturing into new spaces such as personal care, food ingredients, water treatment and oil and gas sectors.