Cognis Invests in U.S. Manufacturing Operations

The Care Chemicals Division of Cognis Corp. has announced an expansion of its domestic U.S. manufacturing infrastructure. The existing esterification plant capability of the Cognis site in Mauldin, SC will be extended with an investment of more than $12 million. According to Cognis executives, this investment will give “state-of-the-art” capability for the production of the highest quality ester raw material products for use in the home and personal care markets in the NAFTA region.
Cognis’ expertise in ester chemistry has enabled the design of the project to include “future proofing” and global integration. Future proofing allows for systematic stepwise upgrading as Cognis manufacturing technology further advances, ensuring the plant will remain state-of-the-art into the future. The upgraded plant will also become part of a global network of similar plants that already operate in Europe and Asia. Together, these plants ensure that globally harmonized identical products are readily available in all world markets.
According to executives, this investment marks the latest phase in a process started during 2002, when Cognis Care Chemicals initiated a program to update and strengthen its U.S. manufacturing infrastructure for the manufacturing of raw materials for the home and personal care markets.
In other Cognis news, the development team for Gluadin WLM, a wheat protein for skin and hair care applications, was honored with this year’s Cognis silver innovation award and more than $19,000 in prize money. The product was recognized for its high penetration efficiency into hair fibers, which enables cosmetic manufacturers to offer superior natural source cosmetics that prevent hair breakage.
“The high penetration efficiency has proved to be particularly interesting to consumers,” commented Josef Koester, Cognis Care Chemicals global marketing director, hair/ body/oral care. “The Gluadin WLM micro protein technology has been very well received worldwide, as confirmed by the large number of hair care products containing and promoting its benefits.” More info: www.cognis.com.