PITTSBURGH - Bayer Corp.'s Coatings and Colorants Division announced plans to consolidate polyester resins manufacturing at the company's New Martinsville, WV, and Columbus, GA, production sites and close its plant at Hicksville, NY, by the end of this year.

The company said the moves are part of an ongoing site-consolidation program designed to eliminate excess capacity and reduce costs.

Bayer acquired the Hicksville plant in 2000 as part of the company's acquisition of Sybron Chemicals Inc. The facility produces liquid polyesters used primarily in adhesives and elastomers, polyester toners for reprographic applications, and polyurethane prepolymers. Bayer's Coatings and Colorants Division is a supplier of raw materials for polyurethane coatings and adhesives and polyester resins for powder coatings.