CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH – Emerald Kalama Chemical, a division of Emerald Performance Materials, has begun construction of a 60-percent capacity expansion for K-FLEX^® non-phthalate plasticizers at its Kalama, WA, facility. The additional reactor capacity is scheduled to be commissioned in January 2013. This is the company’s second capacity expansion for the K-FLEX product line at its Washington facility in the past two years.  Earlier this year, the company also announced construction of a new K-FLEX manufacturing site that is underway in the Netherlands. 

K-FLEX plasticizers and coalescents are used in adhesives, PVC compounds, coatings and other latex polymer applications. In these applications, K-FLEX products are known for enhancing film formation, adhesion, processing characteristics and improving the resistance of the end-product to oil, grease and water. Other benefits include improved scrub resistance, gloss retention in coatings, stain resistance and toughened wear layers in plastisols when compared with other materials. 

“Earlier this year, our company announced we would be making several multi-million dollar investments to further grow our global manufacturing capacity and applications capabilities. This latest expansion at our Kalama, WA, facility is our third globally. This project is designed to meet the growing global demand for this important product platform,” said Edward T. Gotch, President of Emerald Kalama Chemical.  “Our Kalama, WA, facility continues to be an excellent base of operations and applications support from which we can address the market’s needs and integrate with other key feed stocks manufactured at the site.”