Wellman Nears 50% Completion of Major PET Resin Expansion in Mississippi

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). Wellman Incorporated (Shrewsbury, New Jersey) began construction in Fall 2004 for the estimated $50 million PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resin expansion at its Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, Pearl River plant site. Industrialinfo.com first began tracking plans for this expansion in December of 2000, when it was initially reported as part of the North American Project Database.

Lauren Engineers and Constructors Incorporated (Abilene, Texas) was hired as the E+P+C/M contractor and is self-performing many of the mechanical and electrical construction trades. This expansion includes the addition of the plant's third production line designed to produce approximately 300 million pounds per year of PET bottle-grade resins. Current project schedules plan for construction to be substantially complete by the end of 2005, with commercial operations beginning early in the first quarter of 2006.

Demand for gas barrier resins, such as PET used in packaging products and films, has continued to increase in recent years. Wellman delayed the approval and construction start of this project many times, waiting for the most attractive time to add new capacity to this market.

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