KENOVA, W.Va. and PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 25,
2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Braskem (BM&FBOVESPA: BRKM3, BRKM5
and BRKM6; NYSE: BAK; LATIBEX: XBRK), the largest polyolefins
producer in the Americas as well as a market leader and pioneer
producer of biopolymers on an industrial scale, announces today,
the 60th anniversary of its Neal production facility in
Kenova, West Virginia. With the
Neal plant founded in 1961, the facility operates across 100 acres
and makes 70 different grades of polypropylene (PP) that go into
products supporting critical industries such as healthcare,
automotive, food packaging, and much more.
"We are excited to celebrate the 60th anniversary of
Neal. This is a significant milestone, and it wouldn't be possible
without the commitment and resilience of our entire Neal team. This
extraordinary team has always put safety first while ensuring we
can continue to supply our clients even in the most challenging
times. During the initial days of COVID-19 and in the height of the
pandemic's uncertainty, the Neal production team lived at the
production site for 28 days during March and April 2020 to ensure we could continue to supply
the raw material needed to make critical personal protective
equipment (PPE) to keep people safe during COVID. Congratulations
to all our Neal team members, I couldn't be prouder of our team,"
stated Mark Nikolich, CEO, Braskem
America.
Braskem acquired the site through its acquisition of Sunoco
Chemicals in 2010. Since that time, Braskem has continually
reinvested in the site, helping extend its successful track record
for plant safety, reliability, efficiency, and environmental
protection. Neal is the first polymer plant in the United States to use Spheripol PP
production technology, a technology that is now one of the most
widely used PP production processes worldwide. In 1988, this was a
$40 million dollar investment in the
site. In 2020, Braskem invested more than $50 million dollars for a new electrical
infrastructure project and turnaround to improve and maintain the
plant for years to come.
Laurence Kerrigan, Plant Manager
at Braskem's Neal facility, commented, "I am humbled to be part of
such a great team here at Neal. Successfully reaching 60 years of
production is no small feat, and I am truly proud to lead this team
into the future. We are also grateful to our local community for
allowing us to be part of the Kenova community for the last 60
years. We look forward to many more years here."
Braskem has also been a strategic partner for the local
community. The company has invested over $150,000 in the local community. Most recently,
Braskem donated $30,000 to help
Ceredo-Kenova War Memorial Community
Center enable facility modernization and infrastructure
improvements and donated $25,000 to
the newest fleet addition for the Kenova Volunteer Fire
Department. The company's support of the program, Project
Lead the Way (PLTW) at Spring Valley High School, helps the next
generation of student leaders explore future careers in Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Additional
community support from the Neal Plant includes participation in the
Eric Sparks Memorial Golf Tournament
and support of the American Red Cross by hosting 16 blood drives
since January 30, 2014, collecting
519 total units of blood.
The Braskem Neal production facility is in Kenova, West Virginia employing over 106
people and producing polypropylene (PP) homopolymers used in a wide
range of consumer product and manufacturing end markets.
ABOUT BRASKEM
With a global vision of the future
oriented towards people and sustainability, Braskem is committed to
contributing to the value chain for strengthening the Circular
Economy. The petrochemical company's almost 8,000 team members
dedicate themselves every day to improve people's lives through
sustainable chemicals and plastics solutions. Braskem has an
innovative DNA and a comprehensive portfolio of plastic resins and
chemical products for diverse segments, such as food packaging,
construction, manufacturing, automotive, agribusiness, healthcare,
and hygiene, among others. With 41 industrial units in Brazil, the United
States, Mexico and
Germany, and net revenue of
R$58.5 billion (US$11.4 billion), Braskem exports its products to
clients in more than 100 countries.
Braskem America is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
Braskem S.A. headquartered in Philadelphia. The company is the leading
producer of polypropylene in the United
States, with six production plants located in Texas, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, an Innovation and Technology
Center in Pittsburgh, and
operations in Boston focused on
leveraging groundbreaking developments in biotechnology and
advanced materials. For more information, visit
www.braskem.com/usa.
Braskem on English social
media:
www.facebook.com/BraskemGlobal
www.linkedin.com/company/braskem
www.twitter.com/BraskemSA
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SOURCE Braskem