Singapore-based Cariflex Pte Ltd says that it will be constructing a new large-scale polyisoprene latex plant at its Paulinia, Brazil, facility to meet the strong market demand from its medical and consumer product customers. With an investment of US$50 million, the new plant is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2021.
With its increased production capacity, it says that customers can be assured of secure supplies anywhere in the world. Following the addition of this polyisoprene latex unit, the new resulting capacity in Paulinia, Brazil, combined with the existing capacity in Himeji, Japan will strengthen its position global leader of polyisoprene latex. Customers will benefit from Cariflex IR0401 latex volumes sourced from four distinct production lines.
The addition of this new production line is replicating the technology of the current fully utilised unit, and will double the polyisoprene latex capacity of the site.
“Cariflex is excited to be making a sizeable investment in the growth of the polyisoprene latex business. Cariflex polyisoprene latex is a unique synthetic alternative to natural rubber latex for dipped goods and various specialty products. With the current strong demand for medical protective equipment such as surgical gloves, we recognise our customers’ needs to have more material available,” said Philippe Henderson, Cariflex Sales & Marketing leader.
Cariflex parent company Daelim Industrial Co named Prakash Kolluri as CEO of Cariflex Pte Ltd, for the global business. Sean Kim, CEO for Daelim Industrial Co said, “We are delighted to have appointed Prakash Kolluri who is a huge asset to the company. We are confident Prakash will move Cariflex Pte Ltd forward and bring a wealth of experience which will be extremely valuable in driving our future growth globally”
“Our strategic decision for the capacity expansion will accelerate organic growth to a rate faster than competitors and deliver on commitments. We believe in making in our customers more powerful,” Prakash Kolluri, CEO mentioned.
Cariflex is a global leader of isoprene rubber latex (IR Latex) and isoprene rubber (IR) for medical end markets such as surgical gloves and rubber stoppers and seals for drug delivery devices. Cariflex is a wholly owned subsidiary of Daelim Industrial Co.
Daelim Industrial Co is the flagship company of Daelim Group, one of South Korea’s top conglomerates, with more than 80 years of business history. Daelim Industrial is mainly engaged in petrochemical and engineering & construction businesses with US$8.5 billion in sales as of 2019 fiscal year. Daelim Industrial is a leader in the polyisobutylene market worldwide, and having commercialised metallocene polyethylene for the first time in South Korea and developing BOCD (Broad Orthogonal Co-Monomer Distribution) polyethylene and EPO (Ethylene-Propylene Oligomer) for only the second time worldwide.