Eastman adds specialty copolyester capacity

Eastman Chemical Company announced the completion of a project converting capacity at its Kingsport, TN facility from commodity polyester to specialty copolyester. According to Dr. Phillip Griswold, vice president and general manager of Eastman’s Specialty Plastics Business, the new capacity will be used to meet both the growing needs of existing customers and to position the company for growth with new customers in new markets.
"We are pleased to be able to support our customers rapidly increasing demand for these specialty products," said Griswold.
Scheduled for imminent startup, the conversion represents a 10 percent increase in Eastman’s global capacity for specialty copolyesters; particularly the two product families, DuraStar Polymer and Eastar Copolyester.
Easter Copolyester is targeted at the cosmetics and oral hygiene markets; while DuraStar is geared for the appliance and general molding markets.