Plant Closure
Chemtura Corp. has asked a New York bankruptcy court to let it consolidate operations at its Bio-Lab Inc plant in Ashley, Indiana into a Georgia factory. The company expects the closure to be approved as a cost-saving measure. The company is aiming to close the plant, which currently has 55 employees, within nine months.
Inadequate Systems
The T2 Laboratories explosion that killed four and injured 32 in December 2007 was likely caused by an inadequate cooling system and a system that couldn’t contain an out-of-control chemical reaction. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board also said that although the plant was owned by a chemical engineer and chemist, neither had an educational background on reactive chemicals and were unaware of the potential for an accident. Plant employees were making a gasoline additive when a chemical reaction went out of control, raising the pressure inside the reactor, causing a massive explosion and chemical fire.
Line Sale
Dow Chemical Co. will sell a hollow sphere pigment product line to specialty chemicals maker Omnova Solutions Inc. and close two production units at a Freeport, Texas plant. Dow said styrene monomer and ethylbenzene production at the Texas location will close by the end of the year. About 60 employees will be affected, with about one-half reassigned to other positions. Others are expected to retire and the rest will be laid off.
H1N1 Solution
Integrated Environmental Technologies, Ltd. Has announced the successful results of its EcaFlo Anolyte solution, marketed as Excelyte, against H1N1. Specific testing performed by Microbiotest Labs of Sterling, Virginia concluded it is efficacious against the microorganism that causes swine flu (H1N1). The test results will be submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for inclusion on its master label.
Joint Venture
The Wisconsin Department of Commerce and the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership have announced a joint venture to ramp up the number of state manufacturers that export their goods and services. Under the plan, the groups will combine their resources and expertise to help small and midsize manufacturers assess and develop their export potential. The effort will target manufacturers with outreach that includes personal contacts to manufacturers, public workshops and other communications to build awareness, knowledge and capabilities.
