The Dow Company announced the launch of a new MDI (diphenylmethane diisocyanate) distillation and prepolymer facility at its world-class manufacturing site in Freeport, Texas. This investment optimizes Dow’s existing infrastructure assets and enhances Dow’s leadership position in attractive applications in the automotive, construction, consumer and industrial markets.
The new MDI plant in Freeport, Texas, replaces Dow’s North American production capacity in LaPorte, Texas, and will supply an additional 30% of product to Dow’s customers. In order to coincide with the start-up of the new MDI plant, Dow Chemical shut down the polyurethane production unit at the La Porte plant.
Jane, President, Dow Industrial Intermediates and Infrastructure Operations
Palmieri said: “Our customers are looking for cost-competitive and reliable supplies of critical upstream polyurethane raw materials to support their growth. The backward integration of the Freeport plant enhances operational flexibility and reliability and provides more reliable Continuous production processes ensure we can best support customer demand and downstream growth.”
The new MDI plant provides a more sustainable production process by: reducing Dow’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, which is equivalent to taking 6,000 cars off the road each year, the installation reduces the amount of fresh water involved, and the proportion of wastewater it discharges is also reduced. will be significantly reduced.