A polystyrene resin plant operated by Americas Styrenics in Joliet, Ill., will be out of production for several weeks after a tornado knocked out power in the area.
A tornado formed near the plant on July 15, touching down on an adjacent property only 400 yards away, according to a letter to customers obtained by Plastics News.
The tornado's powerful winds destroyed electrical transmission towers, causing a widespread power outage, officials said. "Fortunately, our plant did not sustain significant wind damage, [but] the power outage abruptly cut all electricity to the unit," they added.
The plant — which makes high-impact PS — safely managed the shutdown. AmSty officials "are assessing the specific impacts to our operations … [and] expect that restarting the plant will take a few weeks."
As a result of the outage, product grades made only in Joliet will be allocated based on inventory on hand, officials said. Joliet grades made at other AmSty HIPS plants will be allocated as supply chains are adjusted, they added.
AmSty — based in The Woodlands, Texas — ranks as one of North America's largest PS makers. The business is a joint venture between Trinseo and Chevron Phillips Chemical Co.