Area Development
Solvay will invest to double the capacity of its Technology Solutions global business unit's high molecular weight hindered amine light stabilizers production facility in Willow Island, West Virginia.

Specialty HMW HALS technology provides UV light stabilization and other properties to extend the life and performance of plastics in outdoor conditions and applications, offering the opportunity to lightweight parts by successfully replacing metals, glass, wood and other less efficient and versatile materials.

The core HALS products currently produced at the site are the foundations for the CYNERGY and CYXTRA polymer additive product families that enable Solvay customers to transform the performance characteristics of polyolefin plastics into advanced polymers for specialty applications in building and construction, agricultural films and a host of consumer and industrial uses, company officials said.

“As the leading global specialty HALS supplier, this investment is a commitment to our customers, giving them the peace of mind that comes with surety of supply and added confidence to continue to innovate new and novel solutions for their own customers,” explained Domenico Romanino, Senior Vice President, Additive Technologies.

According to company officials, the investment is for a second, fully independent HMW HALS manufacturing unit to complement the existing line at Willow Island and is slated to be operational by mid-2019. Solvay will leverage the site's technological and operational talent and expertise, as well as the raw material and supply chain already in place to accelerate the unit's build out.