Masterbatch Business Doubles Capacity With New Plant

Clariant Masterbatches has started the construction of a new custom-built 72,000 sq.-ft plant in Etobicoke, ON (a western suburb of Toronto) to house its coloring and additive masterbatch business. The facility, scheduled to open in the late summer of 2002, will replace the company’s existing plant in Mississauga, ON.

The new facility will be nearly double the size of Clariant’s current Mississauga-based plant. It will initially feature seven extrusion lines, four silos and five shipping bays. Further capacity expansions are planned for 2003. The plant will contain an 8,000-sq. ft. state-of-the-art color matching laboratory providing quality control, product testing services and application development

“Despite a general economic slowdown in our industry, Clariant Masterbatches’ Canadian operations remain at full capacity,” says Thomas Bernhardt, vice president/general manager for Clariant. “In order to facilitate continued growth in this key region to Clariant, a newly expanded plant became an urgent necessity.”

U.S./Canadian Closure-Manufacturing Joint Venture to Open In U.S.

Bericap North America, which operates a facility in Burlington, ON, has launched the construction of a new, US$11.2 million plastic closure manufacturing plant in Ontario, CA. The plant is scheduled to open in June of 2002. It will initially supply the fast growing beverage markets from this location close to several major customers. The new plant will be a joint venture with Amcor America Inc. as well as the Burlington plant. Bericap has facilities in Europe, China, Brazil, the U.S. and Canada.