The Economy

Chemical Company to Retool its Kentucky Plant

July 15, 2010

Investment of more than $2.6 million will help the plant retain its 77 employees.

Sekisui Specialty Chemicals America plans to invest more than $2.6 million to retool its acetic acid facility in Calvert City, Ky., in an effort to continue operations and improve productivity at the site.

The reinvestment project will allow the company to upgrade its infrastructure and components and retain its 77 existing employees, according to the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.

The companys infrastructure and components in the Calvert City plant require well-planned maintenance to keep in good operating condition, the agency said in a news release. The commonwealth is partnering with Sekisui with an incentive package that will not only allow the company to replace a section of its distillation tower with super-high-alloy metal, but will also encourage the company to make additional investments in the future.

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved Sekisui for tax incentives up to $888,000 through the Kentucky Reinvestment Act, a program that was expanded in the Governors Incentives for a New Kentucky bill last summer to assist companies that need to make significant capital investment in Kentucky facilities in order to remain competitive.

The commonwealth of Kentucky has always been very helpful to Sekisui Chemical, said Tsuyoshi (Tony) Okano, Sekisui Specialty Chemicals America COO and president. The support from Gov. Beshear and the Kentucky government was the main reason why our headquarters in Japan approved this huge investment for the distillation tower. I would like to show my deepest appreciation for all the support given to us so far, and I would also appreciate the continuous support of Sekisui Specialty Chemicals America.

Sekisui, a manufacturer of high-performance resins, purchased the Calvert City polyvinyl alcohol facility in 2009. The plant produces 99.9%-pure glacial acetic acid used in products such as paints, coatings, pickling and dialysis.

About the Author

Josh Cable | Former Senior Editor

Former Senior Editor Josh Cable covered innovation issues -- including trends and best practices in R&D, process improvement and product development. He also reported on the best practices of the most successful companies and executives in the world of transportation manufacturing, which encompasses the aerospace, automotive, rail and shipbuilding sectors.

Josh also led the IndustryWeek Manufacturing Hall of Fame, IW’s annual tribute to the most influential executives and thought leaders in U.S. manufacturing history.

Before joining IndustryWeek, Josh was the editor-in-chief of Penton Media’s Government Product News and Government Procurement. He also was an award-winning beat reporter for several small newspapers in Northeast Ohio.

Josh received his BFA in creative writing from Bowling Green University, and continued his professional development through course-work at Ohio University and Cuyahoga Community College.

A lifelong resident of the Buckeye State, Josh currently lives in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland. When the weather cooperates, you’ll find him riding his bike to work, exercising his green thumb in the backyard or playing ultimate Frisbee.