Bluestar Silicones opens manufacturing site aimed at personal care supply
Located in the town of York, the facility will also be principally supplying other high growth markets in North America and worldwide, including the healthcare and solar energy industries.
The company says the new multi-million dollar facility is the center piece of its business strategy to grow the distribution of its products worldwide, in turn positioning it as a premier supplier of silicone products.
“The opening of our new manufacturing and R&D facility is a major step forward in the execution of our strategic plan for North America,” said Christopher York, president of Bluestar Silicones North America.
Aiming to turn the business into a top tier silicone supplier
York added that the investment will help to evolve the business in to a top tier supplier, putting it in the ranks of a handful of other global silicone suppliers, which includes players such as Dow Corning, Shin-Etsu, Wacker and Momentive in the personal care arena.
The company’s five year global expansion plan has seen it relocate its two US manufacturing facilities in Ventura, California and Rock Hill, South Carolina, to the new 226,000 square food building, which is situated on a 21.5 acres site.
“Our investment in York, S.C. is significant because it takes our business to the next level,” said York. “We are planting new roots and building a foundation here that will create business opportunities and position us for future market share growth.”
Manufacturing and research under one roof
The new facility now includes manufacturing and research and development under one roof, with the aim of improving technical synergies and accelerating product development and support, as well as faster response times to customers.
The company is already a significant players in the textile coatings and automotive air bags categories, but wants to increase its footprint into high growth categories, including the personal care sector.
The company will now produce its range of silicone technologies at the York facility, including liquid silicone rubbers, room-temperature vulcanized silicones, fluids, dispersions, specialty fluids, resins and antifoam, all of which are marketed under names such as Silcolease, Silcolapse, and Bluesil.
