allnex to expand solventborne resin production in the US

allnex, a supplier of sustainable and innovative resins for industrial coatings, has announced a strategic investment in its East St. Louis operations to develop the facility into a major US site for solventborne resin production.

This strategic investment builds on previous advances in safety, automation and quality at the site. With this expansion, East St. Louis will become the hub for solventborne resin production in the US, ensuring the company can effectively support local and regional customers.

As part of this strategy, all solventborne reactor operations at the Louisville, Kentucky facility will cease by the end of 2025. The Louisville facility will continue to focus on gelcoat mixing and will become a major US R&D center for liquid resins.

"Optimizing our operations and strategically directing investments enables allnex to better serve our customers and achieve sustainable growth in the region and globally," said Jeff McManus, Senior Vice President, Americas.

Miguel Mantas, CEO, allnex, commented: "The Americas are a core market for allnex and we are fully committed to ensuring close proximity and reliable supply to our customers through local production. After a thorough evaluation, we concluded that focusing on a dedicated solvent-based facility will allow us to uphold the highest standards of quality, safety and operational efficiency."

"allnex is committed to the U.S. market and is aware of the impact on the affected employees at our Louisville facility. Consultations with employees and union representatives to support them during the transition will begin shortly. We are committed to finding the best solution for our employees." said Steven Martin, Director of Human Resources, Americas.