Dallas, Texas-based chemical producer Oxea has widened its capacity for specialty esters at Amsterdam, The Netherlands, by 20%. The company said its investment, designed to specifically benefit producers of medical devices and flooring looking to replace phthalate-based plasticizers, was in the "single-digit million euro range."

"The increasing demand for phthalate-free plasticizers reaffirms the strategic vision of Oxea and the necessity of continuous investments and initiatives that we have embarked upon to address the industry's changing requirements," said

Cristobal Ascencio, global vice president for oxo derivatives at Oxea.

The company, which also has a base at Oberhausen, Germany, produces several phthalate-free plasticizers at the Amsterdam plant, including Oxsoft TOTM (trioctyl trimellitate) and DOTP (dioctyl terephthalate), marketed under the brand name Oxsoft GPO.