Eastman Chemical Company has announced that it is expanding the capacity of its Eastman 168 non-phthalate plasticizers at its manufacturing facility in Texas City, Texas. The expansion at the site will increase the overall capacity of Eastman 168 by approximately 15 percent and is expected to be operational by mid-2014.
Company officials state that the demand for non-phthalate plasticizers continues to strengthen across a variety of end-markets and end-uses, and this investment will allow Eastman to sustain its leadership position in serving the needs of current and new customers, particularly in North America and Europe. Non-phthalate plasticizers are broadly used in products such as toys, childcare items, food contact materials and medical devices, and are also used to provide flexibility to PVC in a wide variety of applications. End markets for non-phthalate plasticizers include building and construction, health and wellness, and a broad range of consumer products.
Eastman is a global specialty chemical company that produces a broad range of products. It serves customers in approximately 100 countries and had 2012 revenues of approximately $9.1 billion. The company is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, and employs approximately 14,000 people around the world.