Dow Polyurethanes, a business of The Dow Chemical, will add on a polyether polyols facility at its Map Ta Phut, Thailand, site to further address regional customer needs. The facility’s 165 kilotonnes/year (KTA) of capacity will reduce logistical costs and transportation risks by minimising the amount of transportation across different assets in the region, said the firm. Utilising the DMC (double metal cyanide) catalyst technology, the facility will deliver local supply of polyether polyols for flex slab applications, and especially address customer demand in Coating, Adhesive, Sealant and Elastomer (CASE) applications.

Announced in 2006, the project began with cracker and polyethylene chain developments and has expanded to include the company’s most recent advancements. The Map Ta Phut production site is positioned to serve customers in Southeast Asia, China and India, providing regional clients with increased flexibility.

Meanwhile, in the US, it will increase its polyol and copolymer capacity at its Freeport, Texas, facilities as a result of debottlenecking. “Dow is constantly evolving our technologies to help our customers grow,” said Mark Bassett, global business director for Dow Polyurethanes. “DMC catalysis will allow our Texas facilities to meet customer needs in the region, while boosting global supply of Dow’s world-class products. This capacity increase positions Dow to assists customers with growing demand for polyols and copolymer polyols down the value chain.”

The extra capacity will expand Dow’s capability to leverage low carbon ethylene oxide costs in the US Gulf Coast. It will also enable increased output of base polyols to be used in the expanded copolymer polyols facility, as well as extra volumes of flex slab and coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers (CASE) polyols to the NAA markets.