Specialty chemicals group Clariant announced Wednesday the second expansion of  its ethoxylation site at its Clear Lake plant in Pasadena, Texas.

Following the first expansion in 2012, now already fully utilized, the investment will provide the necessary further capacity to continue profitable growth of the company's industrial and consumer care (ICS) business in North America and Latin America.

The expansion includes new reactors and additional storage facilities, bringing the overall ethoxylation capacity to more than 125 000 metric tons from 95,000 metric tons at present. Products manufactured include high-molecular weight polyethylene glycols (PEGs), alcohol ethoxylates, sodium isethionates and ethoxylated specialties. 

“The investment is another important step in the implementation of our business strategy focussing on profitable growth. With the expansion, we can increase our market share in markets with good growth potential”,  said Hariolf Kottmann, CEO of Clariant.

The new plant will go online in mid-2015.

“Ethoxylated products including polyetylene glycols are a cornerstone of our growth strategy, especially for the fast growing markets in the Americas with their greater demand for personal and home care products," said Michael Willome, head of Clariant's ICS business unit.