HCS Group has started work on a capacity expansion at its plant in Manvel, Texas, USA. The company said the extension at the Manvel Manufacturing Center would enable the production of several hydrocarbons for specialty applications. Capacity details and investment costs were not revealed.

The plant was part of HCS’ acquisition in July 2015 of Shu-Chem Holdings, a producer of alcohols and esters used in the pharmaceutical and printing industries. Uwe Nickel, CEO of HCS, said the additional capacity would give it more flexibility to increase production across its business lines, particularly in specialties, to meet global demand as well as creating opportunities for growth.

The company said its market forecast indicated rising demand for service-driven product offerings over the coming years in North America. HCS Group is the parent company of Haltermann Carless, which is itself a merger of original companies Petrochem Carless and Haltermann.  The group belongs to H.I.G. Europe, a subsidiary of US private equity company H.I.G. Capital.

HCS also has manufacturing sites in Hamburg and Speyer, Germany; Harwich and Gunness, UK; and Bourgtheroulde, France.