Plant expands Tritan production to meet increased market demand
Kingsport, Tenn. — May 13, 2010 — Eastman Chemical Company today is celebrating the grand opening of a new plant exclusively dedicated to the production of Eastman Tritan™ copolyester at its headquarters in Kingsport, Tenn. The plant expands production capacity of Tritan in alignment with increasing market demand for the material. Tritan is a new-generation copolyester that balances the properties of clarity, toughness, and heat and chemical resistance, and is manufactured without bisphenol A (BPA).
“At Eastman, our philosophy is inspiring innovation to benefit our customers,” said Dante Rutstrom, vice president and general manager, specialty plastics business, Eastman. “The opening of the new plant for Eastman Tritan™ copolyester is just another example of our long history of growth based on innovation. With this new facility, we can continue to expand and strengthen our offerings while demonstrating our commitment to making this material successful in the marketplace.”
A focus on markets, applications and customers that benefit from the attributes of Eastman Tritan™ copolyester has enabled Eastman’s Tritan business to quadruple in the past 12 months. Since the launch of Tritan in 2007, marketplace use of Tritan has increased from three initial industries — reusable sports water bottles, housewares and small appliances — to seven target markets, including medical, infant care, bulk water and signs.
“The future outlook for Eastman Tritan™ copolyester is promising, especially considering numerous brands are commercializing innovative applications requiring sizable volumes of Tritan,” Rutstrom said. “By responding to our predicted annual global copolyester market growth of 6 percent to 8 percent, we are already exceeding expectations of marketplace success. We are now even more equipped to increase the opportunities available in the industry.”
Eastman Tritan™ copolyester is manufactured in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. Innovative operations within the plant increase the overall sustainability by minimizing the environmental impact of processes and products, showcasing Eastman‘s continued commitment to sustainable material solutions.
The grand-opening celebration includes tours of the new facility for local government officials, as well as select customers and employees, and presentations by Eastman executives, including Jim Rogers, president and CEO, Eastman, and Mark Costa, executive vice president, specialty polymers, coatings and adhesives, and chief marketing officer, Eastman.
For more information about Eastman Tritan™ copolyester, visit www.eastman.com/tritan.