Croda is investing to increase its production capacity for surfactants at its Chocques manufacturing site in northern France. During a groundbreaking ceremony earlier this month, the speciality chemicals supplier kicked off the construction of a new production facility that will increase capacity at the site by more than 20% when it becomes fully operational in early 2017.
Croda says the extra volume will allow meeting the ever-increasing demand for some of its most renowned surfactants. The new investments will also significantly improve the flexibility of production across the site.
“This significant increase in production capacity is a strategic investment to ensure that the site can continue to play its role in supporting our global business and is part of our global capital investment plan for the Group,” said Steve Foots, CEO of Croda.
On this occasion, new utilities infrastructure at the site was also officially opened. According to Croda, this will see Chocques further improve its efficiency, reliability and sustainability performance; it already obtains more than 90% of its steam and electricity requirements from very low carbon sources.
“We are also constructing a very large game-changing investment in North America that will see us be the first in our space to manufacture a full range of sustainable non-ionic bio-based surfactants,” added Stuart Arnott, President of Operations at Croda.
