WILMINGTON, DE — Ashland has approved and funded plans to construct a new nonionic synthetic associative thickener (NSAT) facility in North America. The expansion reinforces the company’s geographic growth strategy for rheology modifiers. The new facility will be located at an existing Ashland site in Calvert City, Kentucky, which was selected for its strategic location in the Midwest. Mechanical completion and commissioning of the facility is expected in 2024.

“Since our introduction of Aquaflow™ synthetic thickeners more than 20 years ago, Ashland has established a strong, worldwide presence in architectural and industrial coatings formulations,” said Chris Brown, Vice President and General Manager, Global Coatings, Ashland. “Aquaflow answers the growing desire for ease-of-use and superior application properties. This new, world-class facility will significantly increase the global capacity of Aquaflow™ NSATs to meet future demand and complement our existing U.S. facility in Kenedy, Texas and Alizay, France. It will have the capability to produce our full line of low-, mid-, and high-shear effective Aquaflow thickeners in addition to other NSAT chemistries and innovations.”