Dow announced that it plans to build an integrated MDI (methylene diphenyl diisocyanate) distillation and prepolymers facility at its Freeport manufacturing site. The new facility in Freeport will have 30% more capacity than Dow’s current facility in La Porte.
When Dow starts up its new Freeport facility, which is expected to happen in 2023, Dow will shut down its polyurethane assets at the La Porte facility.
The new facility will also use existing thermal energy, which means the new facility will not need to generate thermal power. Dow says production efficiencies will reduce water intake as well as wastewater discharge and the need for transportation of raw materials.
Source: Bic Magazine, “Dow to build new facility in Freeport, shut down polyurethane assets in La Porte,” by Jana Stafford, June 11, 2021