Kraton assessing HSBC plant in Asia

Houston and Shanghai - Kraton Performance Polymers has initiated a project assessment, which includes site-selection activities, to identify options for building a new, hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer (HSBC) plant in Asia. Strong growth in Kraton’s differentiated grades of HSBC’s has created the need for additional manufacturing capacity in the region. The site-selection team is expected to make a recommendation by December 2010, followed by a detailed cost-assessment by early 2011. Kraton anticipates seeking final board of directors’ approval soon thereafter, whereupon construction of the plant would likely commence in the first half of 2012, with start-up occurring as early as the second half of 2013. The proposed 30 Kta HSBC manufacturing facility would employ Kraton’s latest state-of-the-art technology for producing HSBC’s, and should set a new global standard for manufacturing costs and product quality.

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