Apr 5 2007
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP (Chevron Phillips Chemical) announced today that it will proceed with plans to build a 22 million pound-per-year polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) plant in Borger, Texas. Built next to Chevron Phillips Chemical’s existing PPS plant in Borger, the new facility will expand the company’s total PPS capacity at the site to approximately 44 million pounds per year. The new plant will share some infrastructure and operations with the existing Ryton® PPS plant.
The construction process begins immediately, with project completion anticipated in early 2009.
Jacobs Engineering has been selected to provide engineering and procurement services, while Zachry Construction Corporation will provide the construction services for the project.
“The decision to build a new Ryton® PPS plant in Borger is a major step forward for our specialty chemicals business,” said Ray Wilcox, president and chief executive officer of Chevron Phillips Chemical. “As a global leader in PPS technology, this new plant will secure our position in the marketplace for many years to come.”
“This project solidifies Borger, Texas as the worldwide hub for Chevron Phillips Chemical’s PPS polymer business,” said Greg Garland, senior vice president of planning and specialty products.
Like the existing Ryton® PPS plant, much of the PPS polymer produced in Borger will be sent to Chevron Phillips Chemical’s compounding facilities in LaPorte, Texas; Kallo, Belgium; and Tuas, Singapore where it is compounded with glass fibers and minerals to develop resins with unique performance features.
“The market for polyphenylene sulfide is growing and our product is well-suited for many new applications,” said Mike McDonnell, general manager of Chevron Phillips Chemical’s Engineering Polymers group. “The new plant will give us the capacity needed to capitalize on these new market segments.”
Ryton® PPS is Chevron Phillips Chemical’s high performance engineering resin known for its dimensional stability and resistance to corrosive and high-temperature environments. With a thirty-plus year history, Ryton® PPS is recognized as one of the world’s premier products for demanding plastic applications. Ryton® PPS is used in injection molding and extrusion applications for computer components, automobile parts, and various electrical appliances.