The expansion will enable increased production of specialty aluminas, a key raw material in Grace’s premium fluid cracking and hydro-processing catalysts, which are used by oil refineries to produce fuels. The construction is expected to begin in early 2008 and start up in 2009.
Grace has increased its investment in R&D by 61% since 2000 and has since, introduced a variety of new generation refinery catalysts that help maximize the yield and efficiency of residue feedstocks.
Grace noted that customer demand for these catalysts, sold under the Midas and Genesis fluid cracking and ULS-1 hydro-processing catalysts product portfolios, is driving the need for manufacturing expansion.
Gregory Poling, president of Grace Davison, said: This investment significantly increases our ability to consistently and securely meet our customers’ needs for refining catalysts at a time when worldwide demand for refined petroleum products is rapidly increasing.
