STADE, Germany – The Dow Chemical Co. (Dow) has increased its propylene glycol (PG) capacity by an additional 10 kilotons per annum (KTA) at its Stade, Germany, plant after completion of equipment optimization during scheduled routine maintenance.

Resulting from an optimization of existing equipment without altering the PG production process, the capacity increase has raised the plant’s propylene glycol nameplate capacity to approximately 280 KTA. After carefully evaluating the change, by comparison of pre- and post-change analytical data for the pharmaceutical-grade product Propylene Glycol USP/EP based on IPEC Americas Significant Change Guide for Bulk Pharmaceutical Excipients 2009, Dow has deemed this change to be considered minor and, therefore, treated as a “level one” change.

Dow’s continued investments in propylene oxide and propylene glycol have resulted in plans for a new propylene glycol plant in Thailand, a partnership with BASF and Solvay for a successfully operating hydrogen peroxide to propylene oxide (HPPO) plant in Antwerp, and a partnership with Siam Cement Group and Solvay for an HPPO plant in Thailand.