CLEVELAND, TN, July 10, 2006 -- Olin Chlor Alkali Products, a division of Olin Corp., today announced an $11.8 million expansion for the production of bleach at its manufacturing facilities in Augusta, GA, Charleston, TN and Niagara Falls, NY. Current plans include expansion of capacity in 2007 at Olin's McIntosh, AL, facility north of Mobile, once engineering design is completed later this year.
The Niagara Falls location will be building a "grass-roots" world-class facility located on the grounds of the existing Olin site. The new facility will triple the current bleach manufacturing capacity there and be the first of its kind in the state of New York. It's expected to be completed in January 2007.
The production capacity upgrades at the two manufacturing sites in Augusta and Charleston will double their current bleach manufacturing capacity and are expected to be complete in early 2007. The two will be able to partner in their production of bleach in order to meet increasing demand from Atlanta, Birmingham, Nashville and the Southeast in general, according to Ken Morgan, director of marketing for co-products at Olin. Project engineering for expansion at the McIntosh plant is underway and is expected to be completed in phases in 2007 and 2008 to keep up with the growing demand along the Gulf Coast from the panhandle of Florida west through Alabama and Mississippi.
"The expanded capacity and updated equipment will allow us to open new business opportunities within the Northeast and Southeast," he said. "This has become an important strategic business to Olin and one in which we intend to become a leader in the marketplace.
Olin's expansion plans for each of the plants includes doubling the number of truck loading stations, installation of new dilution equipment, filtration equipment, storage tanks, controls, infrastructure and related equipment. The Niagara Falls facility is also being upgraded from a batch process to the Powell Continuous Process System which manufactures sodium hypochlorite with greater efficiency while maintaining the same high quality the plant is known for. The new specialized blending and filtration equipment allows the production of custom bleach while maintaining high purity. Olin's facilities will now have the ability to provide customized options such as various product strengths and alkalinity levels. "All our clients have to do is give us their bleach requirements and we'll make it," said Morgan.
These expansion plans require a minimal capital investment, since most of the necessary equipment is already in place from existing operations, he said. Olin's competitive advantage is increased by the fact that the sodium hypochlorite is produced at the same site as the source of the Electrochemical Units (ECUs) that go into the final product, thereby significantly reducing transportation costs. Each of these factors played a part in Olin deciding to move forward with the expansion plans.
The plants will continue to manufacture their existing portfolio of products, including chlorine and caustic soda, sodium hydrosulfite, potassium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid.
Bleach, or sodium hypochlorite, is a chemical compound widely used in home and industry for applications such as hard surface cleaning, laundry bleaching, and swimming pool, toilet bowl water cleaning and waste disinfection. It was also widely used during much of the cleanup from Hurricane Katrina. In addition, bleach is used as a cleaning and disinfection agent in food processing and preparation.Olin Corporation is a manufacturer concentrated in three business segments: Metals, Chlor Alkali Products and Winchester. Metals products include copper and copper alloy sheet, strip, foil, rod, welded tube, fabricated parts; and stainless steel and aluminum strip.
Olin Chlor Alkali Products (www.olinchloralkali.com), with headquarters in Cleveland, TN, manufactures chlorine and caustic soda, sodium hydrosulfite, hydrochloric acid, potassium hydroxide and bleach products. Winchester products include sporting ammunition, canister powder, reloading components, small caliber military ammunition and industrial cartridges.
Olin Corp. (www.olin.com), based in Clayton, MO, is a manufacturer concentrated in three business segments: Chlor Alkali Products, Metals, and Winchester. Chlor Alkali Products manufactures chlorine and caustic soda, sodium hydrosulfite, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen, potassium hydroxide and bleach products. Metals products include copper and copper alloy sheet, strip, foil, rod, welded tube, fabricated parts, and stainless steel and aluminum strip. Winchester products include sporting ammunition, reloading components, small caliber military ammunition and components, and industrial cartridges.
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