A world-class manufacturing facility for Dow FilmTec™ reverse osmosis (RO) elements for desalination and water reuse is to be built in Huzhou, China, the Dow Chemical Co announced on 7 June 2012.
The new facility will be online in 2013.
“This investment is directly aligned to our growth strategy to maximize value as a leading science company, benefiting our customers in China and the China economy while contributing to Dow’s global growth,” said Peter Sykes, president of Dow Greater China. “Dow Greater China is built on a solid foundation and we’re very confident about our ability to contribute to the China market and customer growth with a business focus which fits China’s 12th Five-Year Plan.”
The proposed facility would deliver local supply security of cutting-edge technology for potable, non-potable and industrial water serving China. The facility would also serve as a sourcing point for global demand, boosting supply of Dow’s products worldwide.
The facility joins Dow’s ultrafiltration manufacturing facility in Huzhou and ion‑exchange resin facility in Qingpu, which supply global products.
“Establishing a China manufacturing facility at our site in Huzhou represents a significant milestone in the growth strategy for our business,” said Ian Barbour, general manager, Dow Water & Process Solutions (DWPS). “Reverse osmosis investment in China is an integral part of the DWPS business growth strategy and by following this strategy we consistently enhance our capability.”
“China continues to be the largest growth market for RO,” said Dr Wang Xiaolan, Asia Pacific commercial director, DWPS. “As the global separation and purification technology leader, producing Dow FilmTec RO elements in China continues Dow’s history of investment in technologies and production capacity to meet the growing challenges for clean and affordable water supply in China needed by our customers and consumers.”