COLUMBIA, Md., Aug. 31, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE:GRA) today issued a statement that its initial assessment shows no injuries to employees and no significant damage to its refining catalysts manufacturing facility in Lake Charles, LA, where Hurricane Laura made landfall last week. There was no impact to Grace’s other operations along the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The devastation to the Lake Charles, Sulphur, and surrounding communities is severe and widespread. The safety of employees is our first priority and the company has contacted all affected employees with no reports of injuries.
At the Lake Charles manufacturing facility, Grace implemented its hurricane protocol, focused on safety, security, customers, and business continuity including the suspension of operations prior to the storm. Recovery and start-up crews are working with the local utility to restore full electrical power to the site. Teams will complete the full inspection and testing of all systems prior to restart.
Grace is working closely with employees, many of whom experienced severe damage to their homes and communities, to provide temporary housing, food service, and essential supplies so employees can safely return to the site to support start-up activities.
Grace does not expect this event to have any significant impact on customer deliveries. Shipments from Lake Charles inventory will resume this week in parallel to restart activities. Additionally, multiple manufacturing facilities are capable of producing the FCC and hydroprocessing catalysts made at our Lake Charles plant. Catalyst production is being shifted, as needed, to other plants to meet customer shipments until operations resume in Lake Charles.
About Grace
Built on talent, technology, and trust, Grace is a leading global specialty chemical company. The company’s two industry-leading business segments—Catalysts Technologies and Materials Technologies—provide innovative products, technologies, and services that enhance the products and processes of our customers around the world. With approximately 4,000 employees, Grace operates and/or sells to customers in over 60 countries. More information about Grace is available at grace.com.
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Media Relations
Rich Badmington
T +1 410.531.4370
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Investor Relations
Jeremy Rohen
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