Specialty chemicals company Rhodia said Wednesday that growing customer demand for enhanced personal care products has prompted a multi-million dollar manufacturing upgrade at a Chicago-area plant.
Rhodia said the project includes an upgraded reactor system (sulphonation) and blending vessels that increase Rhodia's overall capacity for specialty surfactant products. The improvements will allow the site to meet growing demand for the company's Miracare SLB structured surfactant compositions.
Miracare SLB products are structured liquid systems used in personal care cleansing products. The Blue Island plant also hosted other enhancements including an improved control system, additional product storage, and quality assurance, mechanical, environmental, and safety upgrades.
''These enhancements will improve product quality and consistency, flexibility of operations, and improved service and delivery to our customers around the world,'' said Stewart Warburton, global business development director in Rhodia's Novecare enterprise.
Rhodia, based in paris, employs 20,000 and posted sales of more than $6 billion in 2005.
