Emerald Kalama Chemical Completes Expansion

Emerald Kalama Chemical completed start-up of its $40 million expansion at its Rotterdam, Netherlands site. The fully operational expansion increases Emerald's global capabilities, manufacturing flexibility and capacity for Purox B benzoic acid, Kalama benzaldehyde and many downstream products, such as Kalama hexyl cinnamic aldehyde (HCA) and Kalama amyl cinnamic aldehyde (ACA).


According to Edward Gotch, CEO of Emerald Kalama Chemical, cthe newly expanded facilities at Rotterdam are producing the highest purity grade of benzoic acid available on the market, with a minimum assay of 99.98%.


“As world leaders in benzenoid chemistry, including benzoic acid, benzaldehyde, HCA and ACA, it was critical for us to invest in this expansion and execute it the right way, meeting our own high standards and those of our customers,” said Gotch. “We are not just the world's largest producer; we are also producing a very high-quality product reliably, safely, efficiently and in an environmentally responsible manner.”



The additional operations in Rotterdam support the company's strategic vision to sustain a world leadership position in benzoic acid, benzaldehyde and downstream products such as HCA. The project not only significantly expands capacity for these products, but also enhances Emerald's global footprint and backward integration in key raw materials, according to company executives. While the initiative focused on ramping up capacity at the Rotterdam operation, Emerald has made other key investments over the last 24 months in the US, Netherlands and UK to increase capabilities across Emerald's portfolio, improve supply chain and logistics, and provide customers with the added benefit of dual production locations for key aroma chemicals such as HCA.


According to company executives, Emerald is the only global HCA and ACA producer manufacturing these key aroma chemicals in two major regions—with North American operations in the US and European operations in the UK. By supporting Emerald's Widnes (UK) plant with additional benzaldehyde capacity, the Rotterdam expansion further increases Emerald's global HCA and ACA capabilities and solidifies the company's standing as the leading global producer of HCA, ACA, benzaldehyde and benzoic acid.