Arizona Chemical announces multi-million dollar research expansion
The Florida-based firm, which supplies a bio-renewable line of polymeric materials to the personal care industry, will build its new S&T center in Savannah, replacing its existing research facility.
Investment
The 27,000 square-foot facility is scheduled to open in December this year, and is expected to cost $10 million to build.
"This is an exciting day for us," said Carl Bilgrien, vice president Science & Technology, at the ground-breaking ceremony.
"As a company, we are committed to a Vision of being a global leader in innovative, sustainable chemical solutions, and our newest S&T Center in Savannah will provide us with the resources to achieve that Vision."
Employment
The new facility will be home to more than 50 scientists and support staff focused on developing bio-based solutions for the company's customers.
"This new Center has been designed to provide us with a state-of-the-art research environment in a contemporary facility that will appeal to customers and attract science and technology professionals to Arizona Chemical and to Savannah," Bilgrien explained.
"Our Savannah refinery is among the largest in the company and the global pine chemicals industry. We have more than 200 employees in the Savannah area, and we're confident that building this new S&T Center on our Savannah campus will not only sustain, but build local employment," added David Cowfer, vice president, Human Resources & Communications.
History
The new Savannah S&T Center is being built on the company's existing property in the Hudson Hill community which has been in operation for more than 50 years.
The company also has a European S&T Center in Almere, the Netherlands, and opened an S&T Center in Shanghai in 2012 to support its growth in Asia.
