Multiple Debottlenecks Planned For Nova Chemical Plant in Pennsylvania

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). Nova Chemicals Corporation (Calgary, Alberta) (NYSE: NCX) plans to perform debottlenecks for several styrenic polymer production areas at their Monaca, Pennsylvania plant. The two areas that are expanding are the arcel and dylark styrenic polymer production areas.

Phase one of the work planned in the arcel production area, a moldable packaging foam, has already been completed and phase two is pending. Preliminary engineering has begun on the second phase estimated at $8 million with construction slated to begin next year and completion scheduled for mid 2004. Once the debottleneck is complete, arcel production capacity will approximately double.

The second area being debottlenecked is the dylark styrenic area, which is an economical styrene maleic anhydride engineered polymer that is used in applications for the automotive and consumer industries. The estimated investment is comparable with the arcel expansion and will also be increasing production capacity. Construction should commence late this year with plans of being complete by the end of the year.

Nova Chemicals Corporation, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta is rated the first in production capacity of styrenics in North America and number five worldwide. Approximately 3.6 billion pound of styrenic polymers are produced at eleven manufacturing plants in North America and Europe. Styrenic polymers include solid polystyrene (SPS), high performance styrenic copolymers (HPS) and expandable polystyrene (EPS). They are utilized in consumer products including cd's, dvd cases and also medical devices and packaging materials.