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Rockwood Holdings Inc. has announced plans to build a $115 million production facility for iron oxide pigments in Augusta, GA—the first new U.S. production facility of its type in nearly 35 years.
“Rockwood is the only global iron oxide supplier with production capabilities in North America,” said Andrew M. Ross, president of Rockwood Performance Additives.
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Rockwood Color Pigments |
| Rockwood is the only global iron oxide supplier with production capabilities in North America. |
“We are making this investment in a new production facility in the U.S. to deploy significant recent advancements in our proven iron oxide pigment technology. This investment is further evidence of our commitment to strengthen regional manufacturing capability to support our customers.”
Iron oxides are widely used as inexpensive, durable pigments in paints, coatings and colored concretes.
Improving Supply, Quality
Seifi Ghasemi, chairman and chief executive of Rockwood Holdings, said the facility would reduce the company’s dependence on imported raw materials—a chronic supply-chain problem that is afflicting the entire coating industry.
The plant will also consolidate the company’s operations in the U.S., improve product quality, reduce lead time and “reflects our confidence in the future growth of the US economy,” Ghasemi said.
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| Rockwood’s inorganic pigments are used in corrosion protection, flame suppression and other coating and materials applications. |
Construction of the facility is expected to take 18 months, with commissioning expected in the first half of 2013. This investment is expected to create 80 to 100 new jobs at the new facility.
When the new plant opens, Rockwood will close its manufacturing facility in St. Louis, MO, and part of its facility in Beltsville, MD.
About the Company
The plant will be part of Rockwood’s Color Pigments & Services Division, one of the largest worldwide suppliers of colored pigments for construction, coatings, plastics and specialty applications.
The division has manufacturing sites and customer service centers in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Australia and China, as well as additional sales offices in Singapore and Hong Kong.
Rockwood Holdings is a global specialty chemicals and advanced materials company, with 9,600 employees and more than $3.5 billion in annual net sales. The company focuses on global niche segments of the specialty chemicals, pigments and additives and advanced materials markets.
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