Eastman Chemical Co. recently announced that it will invest approximately $100 million to further invest in and transform its facility in Calhoun County, S.C.

Supporting previously announced strategic growth efforts for both specialty copolyesters and polyethylene teraphthalate (PET) product lines, the company disclosed that this expenditure will encompass the conversion of an existing polymer line to add specialty copolyester production to the site, transformation from dimethyl teraphthalate (DMT) to purified terephthalic acid (PTA) production to create an integrated PTA-based polymer site, and infrastructure investments.

Also included will be projects aimed at increasing the capacity of the site's IntegRex technology polymer production by at least 50 percent. The projects are currently underway and expected to be completed in 2008.

“Eastman is dedicated to efficiently serving the needs of our customers in the global copolyester market,” said Dante Rutstrom, vice president and general manager of Eastman's specialty plastics business. “The additional capacity and flexibility the expansions will give us are a clear demonstration of our commitment to this business and to growing with our specialty copolyester customers.”

Eastman manufactures and markets chemicals, fibers, and plastics worldwide. It provides key differentiated coatings, adhesives and specialty plastics products; is one of the world’s largest producers of PET polymers for packaging; and is a major supplier of cellulose acetate fibers.

“It’s appropriate that we’re beginning these projects during the 40th anniversary of our South Carolina operations,” said Gregory O. Nelson, executive vice president and head of Eastman's polymers business group.

Nelson noted the site began operation in 1967 as a manufacturer of polyester textile fibers. During the early 80s, the site became one of the earliest producers of PET resin for carbonated soft drink bottles. In the late 80s, the site ceased fiber production and was fully converted to the manufacture of PET resin for packaging applications. The site remains one of the world’s largest PET resin manufacturing facilities in the world.

The company was founded in 1920 and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tenn.

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