INEOS Silicas Sells North American Sodium Metasilicate Business
INEOS Silicas has today announced the sale of its North American Sodium Metasilicate business to PQ Corporation. The sale completed on June 23, 2006 and the production line at INEOS’ site in Joliet, Illinois will close.
Metasilicates are used in a range of Industrial and Institutional (I&I) cleaning formulations.
“Market decline, industry over-capacity and rising energy prices have all contributed to our decision” said Simon Wilson, Commercial Director. “However, this does not affect INEOS’ business outside of North America and production will continue at our plant in Eijsden, The Netherlands”
The Joliet site produces a range of silicate and silica products for both domestic sales and for export. Silicas capacity has been increased significantly over the last three years, driven by growing demand for flatting agents in the industrial surface coatings market.
For more information contact:
Simon Wilson
Phone: +44 1925 416280
Email: simon.wilson@ineossilicas.com
Notes for editors:
INEOS Silicas is a leading global manufacturer of silicates, zeolites and silicas related products with manufacturing sites in the UK (Warrington), Netherlands (Eijsden), USA (Joliet), Brazil (Jacana and Rio Claro), South Africa (Durban and Johannesburg) and Indonesia (Pasaruan). There is also an Asia Pacific regional sales organisation based in Singapore. The business, formerly known as Crosfield was acquired in January 2001 from ICI.