Kraton Corp., a Texas-based synthetic rubber manufacturer, has reportedly sanctioned the building of a latex manufacturing facility in Paulinia, Brazil. Reports state that the construction is slated to be completed by 2020’s first quarter and will expectedly be ready for commissioning in the year’s second quarter.
If industry experts are to be believed, the new platform is likely to result in more flexible commercialization of the novel, next-generation thermoplastic elastomer latex – Cariflex IR2GL 1 Latex, that offers strength, purity and softness and simultaneously reduces Type 1 & Type 4 allergies which are very often found in dipped goods. The capabilities of the new unit is expected to promote more competent transition between the full-scale commercial unit and the laboratory pilot unit and could be deployed for early-stage volumes of commercialization.
Philippe Henderson, Market Development Director, Cariflex Polyisoprene Products, Kraton, was quoted saying that the new semi works facility is likely to accelerate the company’s innovation projects. He added that the firm will be enabled to reduce complexity as well as cost during the initial stages commercialization & product scale-up activities. The Cariflex technology is believed to have huge growth potential and the new platform will expectedly enhance the firm’s ability to benefit from key market prospects through the expansion of its product portfolio.
Sources with the knowledge of the matter cited that the semi works latex unit will operate either deploying the DC (Direct Connect) mode or the non-DC mode (solid polymer feedstock). The unit will be pumping polymer materials directly from the on-location commercial polymerization reactor, in the DC mode, which will offer much flexibility to advance the ambitious development projects that are based on polymers, either sourced from the core anionic polymerization operations or supplied by the third parties, sources added.
In addition, Kraton had reportedly initiated a review process for strategic alternatives for its Cariflex business, earlier this year.
