On June 9, 2021, an integrated MDI distillation and prepolymers facility was announced by Dow at its world class manufacturing site in Freeport, Texas. The rising demand for polyurethane systems products which have its major applications in consumer, construction, and industrial markets, growing above GDP, supports Dow’s leading position in these markets with this investment.
Dow’s current North America capacity in La Porte, Texas will be replaced by new Freeport MDI facility which will be capable of supplying to the customers the additional 30 percent of the product. Dow will be stopping its polyurethane assets in La Porte site with the starting up of the new MDI facility which is expected to start in 2023.
The new facility in Freeport will be utilizing existing thermal energy from the Freeport site which helps to eliminate the generation of thermal power. The new facility will also be reducing water discharge through increased production efficiencies, water intake and helps in eliminating the need for transport of raw materials.
The Polyurethane systems of Dow helps to upgrade the key polyurethane components to produce flexible, rigid, and semi-rigid foams and adhesives, coatings, sealants, elastomers, and various other applications which range from infrastructure and industrial solutions to solutions of consumer comfort in furniture, flooring, footwear, and bedding, to energy efficient insulation materials and solution in automotive industry for vehicle interior.
