MINNEAPOLIS, MN, May 18, 2010 -- Dow Water & Process Solutions, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, today announced that the company plans to expand its Fombio, Italy facility to manufacture uniform particle size (UPS) copolymers used in the company's ion exchange resins. The new capacity will make use of industry-leading manufacturing technology from both Dow and Rohm and Haas for production of the highest quality UPS copolymer available in the industry today. Producing UPS gel copolymer for the first time in Europe is the latest step in the transformation of Dow's ion exchange asset grid to a more streamlined, competitive configuration. The world's leading brands for ion exchange resins, DOWEX™ and AMBERJET™ include a broad line of products for water purification, healthcare, food and industrial processes.
"Currently, we manufacture UPS gel copolymer in the U.S. and ship to major markets in France, China, and Japan," said Ian Barbour, General Manager, Dow Water & Process Solutions. "Creating an advanced manufacturing presence for copolymers in Europe allows us to provide higher-quality product more quickly and at a reduced transportation cost."
The acquisition of Rohm and Haas' ion exchange businesses in April 2009 has allowed Dow to develop a UPS manufacturing technology based on the best practices of both Dow and Rohm and Haas. The Fombio manufacturing facility is certified to the ISO 9001 standard for quality systems and the ISO 14001 standard for environmental management, further improving Dow's ability to consistently produce quality copolymer while minimizing environment impacts associated with the manufacturing process.
"We have always been committed to providing customers with the ultimate combination of performance, reliability and efficiency in our products," said Tom Bass, Business Operations Leader, Dow Water & Process Solutions. "By increasing the efficiency of our manufacturing process, Dow is also reducing inter-regional freight and having a positive impact on our carbon footprint."
Copolymer manufacturing at Fombio is expected to begin in the second half of 2010.
About Dow Water & Process Solutions
Dow Water & Process Solutions has a 50 year legacy of providing innovative water and process solutions to both communities and industries alike. A differentiated business unit of The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, Dow Water & Process Solutions offers a broad portfolio of ion exchange resins, reverse osmosis membranes, ultrafiltration membranes and electrodeionization products, with strong positions in a number of major application areas, including industrial and municipal water, chemical processes, pharmaceuticals, power, residential water and waste and water reuse. More information about Dow Water & Process Solutions can be found at www.dowwaterandprocess.com
About Dow
Dow combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2009, Dow had annual sales of $45 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 214 sites in 37 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
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