Olin breaks ground on chlor-alkali expansion at Tennessee plant
Olin broke ground Friday on an expansion of its chlor-alkali plant in Charleston, Tenn., which includes a new state-of-the-art membrane cell manufacturing facility.
Olin is investing $160 million in the new facility, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2012.
When completed, the new facility will produce the highest quality chlorine, caustic soda and related products and have a capacity of 200,000 tons, including an expansion of the plant's production of potassium hydroxide (KOH), it said.
The technology change will allow the plant to meet the growing need for KOH that is important to the production of food, fertilizers, herbicides, soaps, detergents, airplane de-icing fluids and other key products, the company said.
Once installation of the new technology is in place at the Charleston plant in 2012, mercury will not be a part of the manufacturing process.
Olin Chlor Alkali Products employs approximately 350 people at the Charleston plant. Its investment is expected to generate hundreds of other construction and related jobs in the region, officials said.
The plant, located on the Hiwassee River, is a key supplier of building block chemicals to many companies in Tennessee and around the world, the company said.
Its products play a key role in water disinfection and food processing and in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, plastics, paper and electronics.
The Charleston plant is one of 10 Olin Chlor Alkali Products facilities in North America.
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