MIDLAND, MI — Dow announced a series of incremental methyl cellulose capacity investments to help construction dry mix customers secure reliable supply of key additives for this expanding area. These capacity increases are part of a multi-phase investment plan for construction chemicals.
Dow will increase capacity in methyl cellulose production at its manufacturing facilities in Bomlitz and Bitterfeld, Germany, supporting customer requirements for high-quality cellulose ether products. Collectively, these expansion projects represent a 19,000-metric-ton increase in capacity for Dow’s WALOCEL™ and METHOCEL™ cellulose ethers, which are used in a variety of applications for tile adhesives, grouts, fillers, levellers and joint compounds; reinforcing and bonding mortars for External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS); gypsum plasters; and cement-based renders. The new capacities are expected to come online in 2019 and 2020.