Dow starts up Texas MDI distillation, prepolymers facility

Midland, Michigan - Dow Inc. has started up a new MDI (methylene diphenyl diisocyanate) distillation and prepolymers facility at its Freeport, Texas site.

The plant will support growing demand for polyurethanes in automotive, construction, consumer, and industrial markets, said the US group.

Replacing Dow’s North America capacity in La Porte, Texas, the new unit will increase the group’s MDI processing capacity by 30%, Dow announced in September.

Concurrent with the start-up in Freeport, Dow has shut down its assets at the La Porte site, according to the group's statement.

The new site, continued Dow, will provide “reliable supply of key upstream polyurethane raw materials” to customers.

Back-integration at the Freeport site enhances operational flexibility, reliability and sustainability, said Jane Palmieri, president of Dow industrial intermediates & infrastructure.

Dow produces a range of polyurethane systems, including flexible foams, elastomers as well as rigid and semi-rigid materials for a broad range of applications.