Dow confirms CPE plant closure at Stade

London – Dow Chemical Co. has confirmed that it is to close its unit for the production of Tyrin chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) in Stade, Germany. (See ERJ news report)

In a statement supplied to ERJ, the company said the decision was “part of the company’s intention to make minor asset footprint adjustments in an effort to position businesses for long-term earnings growth.”

 The US group went on to say that the plant closure would enable the additives business to focus more on other areas of the market.

 “While the intention to cease manufacturing at the Tyrin unit is a difficult decision, it allows the business to more clearly focus on areas of demonstrated strength, including acrylics and MBS – both key areas of long term growth for the Plastics Additives business,” said Dow.

The company declined ERJ's request to provide figures for the capacity of the German CPE facility and the number of employees affected by the closure.