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ATLANTA, GA (U.S.), May 2, 2017 - The Fire Retardant Additives (FRA) business unit, part of the Huber Engineered Materials division of J.M. Huber Corporation, announces a 20% capacity increase at its manufacturing plant in Bauxite, Arkansas (U.S.). The capacity increase supports the transfer of Huber’s proprietary technology for production of its fine precipitated Martinal® LEO alumina trihydrate products obtained from the 2016 acquisition of the Martinswerk facility in Bergheim, Germany. The expansion will also support the ongoing growth of existing product lines at Bauxite, which includes both Hydral® 710 and Hydral® PGA fine precipitated hydrates.
“Since Martinswerk is now part of Huber, it is a logical step to create a strategic global product platform for our customers,” says Martin Schulting, Managing Director of Huber’s FRA European business.
“The transfer will allow customers in North America to source high quality Martinal LEO grades locally resulting in reduced lead times and freight costs,” continues Jerry Bertram, Vice President & General Manager of Huber’s FRA business. “It will increase global capacity for Martinal LEO grades and creates more flexibility in our supply chain to service customers in the Asia Pacific and other regions of the world, as we will have two plants on two continents capable of manufacturing the Martinal LEO product portfolio.”
Production trials for the Martinal® LEO products at Bauxite have been completed and commercial availability is planned for third quarter 2017. In addition to the Martinal LEO grades, the Bauxite plant will continue production of its existing portfolio of Hydral® precipitated hydrate products.
Huber has been a global leader and trusted supplier of non-halogenated flame retardants and smoke suppressants for more than 30 years, with four manufacturing sites in North America and two in Europe. It manufactures a large portfolio of value-added Hydral®, Hymod® and Micral® alumina trihydrates, Vertex® and Zerogen® magnesium hydroxides and Kemgard® molybdate compounds for a variety of end-use applications, including wire and cable, reinforced polyester molding and pultrusion, engineering thermoplastics, roofing, rubber, coatings and carpet backing. In addition, Huber produces Martoxid® calcined aluminum oxides, Compalox® specialty oxides, and Pergopak® carriers and organic matting agents.
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About Huber Engineered Materials (www.hubermaterials.com)
Huber Engineered Materials, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia (U.S.), is a global business focused on engineered specialty ingredients that enhance the performance, appeal and processing of a broad range of products used in industrial, paper and consumer-based applications. With an expertise in inorganic materials, it has a portfolio of high value products: specialty silicas and silicates, alumina trihydrate, magnesium hydroxide, barium sulfate, specialty aluminas, organic matting agents and industrial, food and USP calcium carbonate.
About J.M. Huber Corporation (www.huber.com)
J.M. Huber Corporation, headquartered in Edison, New Jersey (U.S.), operates a portfolio of companies with a focus on its core engineered materials businesses. Founded in 1883, today Huber is one of the largest family-owned companies in the United States. The diversified, multinational company creates products that are used in a broad range of consumer and industrial applications, including oral care, personal care, food, beverage, pharmaceuticals and building materials.
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