Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich., plans to build a new phenolic glycol ether production unit in Freeport, Texas, to meet the changing needs of its performance solvents customers. The new unit, which will come on-line in the third quarter of 2006, will replace existing capacity in Midland, Mich. The new unit will produce DOWANOL EPh and PPh and will be designed to meet immediate and forecast demand for these fast-growing performance solvents. The facility will incorporate the latest technology resulting in an improvement in product quality and consistency. One of the key factors behind the decision to build the new unit in Freeport is easier access to key raw materials - phenol, ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO).

"Dow is the world's largest producer of glycol ethers, and as such, we are committed to meeting our customers' needs for more capacity and higher quality performance solvents," says Martin Sutcliffe, global business director, Glycol Ethers "We will continue to pursue additional options to meet increased demand for EO- and PO-based glycol ethers around the world."

"This project and the upgrade to the Oxo and Isopropanol units in Texas City demonstrate our ongoing commitment to deliver a reliable supply of quality oxygenated solvents to our customers around the world, where and when they need it," says Ted Cosse, vice president, Acrylics, Solvents & Intermediates. The Texas City facilities are owned and operated by Union Carbide Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dow Chemical Company.