New Acrylic Emulsion Line On-Stream At Eastman Sokolov

Eastman Chemical Company has completed a multi-million dollar expansion at its Sokolov facility in the Czech Republic to meet customer demand for acrylic and styrene acrylic emulsions.

Eastman recently commissioned a new state-of-the-art 24 m³ emulsion reactor and associated ancillary equipment at its Sokolov facility.

According to Hans Boots, General Manager Coatings Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), the expansion project was started in mid 2001, and the new line was brought on-stream in the summer of 2002. He adds that this investment enables Eastman to meet the needs of architectural and industrial coatings manufacturers, as well as those of adhesives and inks producers.

“We plan to continue to make full use of our current production facilities.” Boots said. “The demand for (styrene) acrylic emulsions grows steadily - and as a key supplier to the industry, we want to be able to deliver high quality products faster, using the latest technologies, both now and in the future.

“Our facility in Sokolov is among the most advanced in the industry - and we want to retain that position,” Boots continued. “With this in mind, we have already started pre-engineering work for the next (styrene) acrylic emulsion line to accommodate further growth in the future.”

Eastman Sokolov is a key manufacturing facility serving Eastman’s Coatings, Adhesives, Specialty Polymers and Inks (CASPI) business organisation – which comprises 9 production units throughout Europe. Over the past ten years, Eastman has made significant investments and today it has established a strong reputation as a supplier of top quality products for key industrial sectors such as paints and coatings, intermediates, graphic arts and adhesives. Supported by Technical Centres in the UK, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium and the Czech Republic, and with a direct link to its global R&D Centre in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA, Eastman is now recognised as a leading European manufacturer, in close proximity to its European customers.

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