Kemira Chemicals will expand its sodium percarbonate production at Kemira Kemi AB´s plant in Helsingborg, Sweden. A new line with a capacity of 25,000 tons will raise total production capacity to 45,000 tons. The new production line will be brought on stream at the end of 2001. The production of sodium percarbonate was started in Helsingborg in 1998.
Sodium percarbonate, by the tradename of ECOX, is an environmentally-friendly bleaching agent which is primarily used in washing and dishwashing detergents. Sodium percarbonate is a direct forward integration of hydrogen peroxide, one of Kemira's green core products. In this area Kemira ranks among the five major global producers.
The investment in sodium percarbonate will strengthen Kemira's position as an important supplier to the international detergent industry. It also supports Kemira Chemicals' strategy whereby our growth areas are in envirochemicals, water management and recycling.
"The main market for sodium percarbonate is in Germany, France, Great Britain, Belgium and Holland. We are naturally keeping a close eye on developments on the market elsewhere", says Harri Kerminen, Executive Vice President, SBU Industrial Chemicals.
Kemira Chemicals is part of Kemira Group. In addition to the detergent industry its other main customer groups are the pulp and paper industry and other industries, as well as municipal and industry water treatment. The net sales in 1999 were EUR 697 million.