WILMINGTON, DE — Ashland recently completed a successful expansion for Natrosol™ hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) in Nanjing, China, increasing the company’s manufacturing output at the site by nearly 30%.

Ashland is the global leader in HEC sales and production and has manufacturing sites located in China, the Netherlands and the United States. Key markets for HEC include coatings, personal care, oil and gas, construction, and pharmaceuticals.

“This capacity expansion enables us to support our customers’ growing demand for Natrosol HEC,” said Chris Brown, Vice President and General Manager, Ashland Coatings. “Continuing to maximize our current network provides Ashland with a better return on capital versus building a new plant while also strengthening our cost position.”