Polymer additives specialist Addivant held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark its multi-million dollar expansion for its Weston 705 nonylphenol-free antioxidant production at the company's Morgantown, W.Va., manufacturing facility.
The expansion more than triples Addivant's capacity for production of the liquid phosphite antioxidant, which is used for polyolefins and rubber without nonylphenol chemistry, according to a company statement.
"The expansion of our Morgantown facility is a major step forward in meeting the growing global demand for Weston 705 nonylphenol-free antioxidant," said John Steitz, Addivant CEO.
Phosphite antioxidants are necessary ingredients in packaging films, and need to be thoroughly tested because films come in direct contact with food products. Weston 705 was specifically designed as a solution to replace nonylphenol-based AO in food packaging while also complying with global regulatory requirements, according to the statement. It is approved in more than 180 countries for food-contact packaging, including the U.S., Canada, Europe and China. Recently, it received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in infant food and breast milk packaging.
During the last three years, Addivant has increased its pace of investment in assets and regulatory for Weston 705 on average by 40 percent each year, according to the statement.