Dow Formulated Systems, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: Dow), today announced the completion of a new wind blade epoxy adhesive production plant in Roberta, Georgia. The plant, which includes a new reactor and production equipment, is fully dedicated to the wind sector and will be used to support the U.S. market as well as exports to China and Latin America. The plant is located at Dow’s existing Roberta, Georgia facilities, and should be fully operational by July 1, 2011.
Jean-Luc Guillaume, Global Business Leader for Wind Energy for Dow Formulated Systems, said the new plant is part of a global Dow network of production assets that supports customers with local sources for wind blade technology, providing additional supply security and simplified logistics. “We are one of the few blade adhesive suppliers with production in North America,” Guillaume said, adding that, “this investment demonstrates our strong commitment to the wind energy industry in North America and throughout the world.”
According to Guillaume, “Epoxy adhesives play a critical role in the fabrication, performance and durability of wind turbine blades where large substructures are bonded together to create the finished blades. Specialized properties are needed for adhesive mixing and application during the fabrication process and cured adhesives must exhibit high levels of toughness and durability to withstand the extreme loads a wind turbine blade is subjected to throughout its service life. Dow Formulated Systems continues to develop new adhesive systems to support advances in wind blade design, including the trend toward larger blades produced using technology that delivers weight-savings without loss of strength. The addition of our new U.S. plant helps ensure that, as new adhesives are commercialized, the volume requirements of wind blade customers are met.”
About Dow Formulated Systems
Dow Formulated Systems, a global business unit of The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) is a global industry leader in the development and formulation of fully-formulated polyurethane and epoxy systems, focused on providing its customers worldwide with innovative tailor-made solutions through its Energy Efficiency, Alternative Energy & Composites, Infrastructure Life Preservation, Leisure & Lifestyle and Industrial Castings and Adhesives businesses. Dow Formulated Systems manufactures and markets custom formulated rigid and semi-rigid, flexible, integral skin, and microcellular polyurethane foams and fully-formulated systems as well as coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers and binders used in applications ranging from residential and commercial construction, infrastructure repair, wind energy solutions, oil and gas, automotive, appliance, furniture, and shoe soles to decorative molding and athletic equipment. Striving to meet the specific needs of its customers in their local geographic regions, Dow Formulated Systems operates a global network of 30 system houses.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: Dow) combines the power of science and technology with the “Human Element” to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2010, Dow had annual sales of $53.7 billion and employed approximately 50,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
For editorial information:
Elise Heffelfinger
The Dow Chemical Company
+1 989-638-6834
For editorial information:
Patrick Kane
For The Dow Chemical Company
+1 616-957-2000
pkane@alexandermarketing.com
