25.07.2018 • NewsPerstorpinvestmentcapacity expansion

Perstorp proceeds with UK Caprolactone Upgrad

Perstorp proceeds with UK Caprolactone Upgrad © Perstorp
Perstorp proceeds with UK Caprolactone Upgrad © Perstorp

Swedish chemical producer Perstorp continues to make progress on upgrading its caprolactone plant in Warrington, UK. The project due to be completed in the second half of 2019 entails installation of a new peracetic still as well as new reactors to permit a higher production volume and facilitate expansion and debottlenecking.

A first upgrade was undertaken in 2011 with the addition of a second train. Work on the latest phase will begin sometime this year and is not expected to interfere with ongoing production. For the most part, this will entail demolition of much of the original plant built in the 1990s and reconstruction on the same site.

At the heart of the upgrade will be the installation of a new peracetic still as well as new reactors to permit a higher production volume and facilitate expansion and debottlenecking of caprolactone, which the company uses to make its Capa-branded high molecular weight linear polyester.

Further improvement of plant safety is also a goal of the work in progress, the company said earlier, explaining that the introduction of state-of-the-art technology and information systems will mean that fewer manual interventions will be needed in future.

Stephen Lewis, vice president of the caprolactones business unit, said the Swedish company continues to see strong confidence and demand among its customers, in particular for its range of derivatives marketed under the names Capa Thermoplastics and Capa Polyols.

Interview

Specialty Chemicals in a Shifting World
Adapting to Tariffs and Strengthening Regional Networks

Specialty Chemicals in a Shifting World

Jennifer Abril, President & CEO of SOCMA, discusses the impact of new tariffs and the importance of regional supply networks in the specialty chemical industry.

Free Virtual Event

Sustainability in Bioprocessing
Bioprocess Forum

Sustainability in Bioprocessing

Join us to explore hot topics in sustainable bioprocessing like the industrial potential of enzymatic synthesis, innovative biocatalysis techniques, and the use of digital twins in bioprocessing.