Honeywell Prepares for First Shipments of Commercially Produced Enovate™ 3000 Blowing Agent

Honeywell’s Fluorine Products business announced today that its new production facility for Enovate™ 3000 blowing agent (HFC-245fa) began commercial operation in early August, 2002. First shipments of commercial product will also begin in August.

The plant start-up is the culmination of a 10 year, over $130 million dollar investment by Honeywell, and occurs in advance of the mandated phase-out of HCFC-141b. The successful start-up ensures that users worldwide will be prepared to transition away from HCFC based blowing agents in a smooth and orderly fashion. Enovate 3000 blowing agent is Honeywell’s non-flammable, zero-ozone depleting replacement for HCFC-141b and other blowing agents.

“This major investment by Honeywell illustrates our commitment to providing customers with products that ensure their continued business success in the face of a dynamic regulatory environment”, states Richard Preziotti, Vice President and General Manager, Fluorine Products. “Our commercialization of Enovate 3000 builds on Honeywell’s successful track record of bringing innovative chemicals and materials to market,” continues Preziotti.

Honeywell’s EnovateTM 3000 blowing agent facility is located in Geismar, Louisiana, in close proximity to a new Vulcan Chemicals facility dedicated to the production of HCC-240fa, an important feedstock for Enovate 3000 production. The Enovate 3000 plant has been sized to meet global demand for the rigid foam market. Honeywell's supply chain team has structured a robust process to reliably fill customer’s needs globally for the product. Applications targeted globally for the use of Enovate 3000 include rigid insulation foam for refrigerators and freezers, spray foam, board stock foam for construction applications, rigid foam used in metal panels and doors, and a variety of other insulating foam applications.

“A fluorocarbon blowing agent supplier for more than 40 years, Honeywell continues to develop and commercialize products that meet the needs of the global foam industry,” said Honeywell’s Carol Bibb, Business Director Specialty Fluorines. “We partnered with our customers in the transition from CFC-11 to HCFC-141b and are ready once again with Enovate 3000 to provide them with the next generation blowing agent.”

As part of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, production and use of HCFC-141b is being phased out around the world because of its potential to deplete the earth’s stratospheric ozone layer. The U.S. is scheduled to phase out HCFC-141b as of January 1, 2003. Europe has established application phase-outs for HCFC-141b and other HCFCs to occur during the 2002-2004 time period. Japan is scheduled to phase out of HCFC-141b as of January 1, 2004, with other countries and regions following over the next several years.

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