Kraton Announces Opening of HSBC Plant in Taiwan

HOUSTON, May 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Kraton Corporation (NYSE: KRA), a leading global producer of styrenic block copolymers, specialty polymers and high-value performance products derived from pine wood pulping co-products, announces the opening of the 30 kiloton hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer (HSBC) plant in Mailiao, Taiwan on Friday, May 12.

HSBC plant in Mailiao, Taiwan.

The Mailiao plant will suPPOrt Kraton's innovation-grade business, particularly low molecular weight HSBC products. These polymers impart performance characteristics such as toughness and clarity in olefin-based compounds targeted for automotive, medical and film applications as well as low viscosity for thermally stable adhesives, sealants, and coatings.

The facility's key features include a process and product laboratory with capabilities for manufacturing low viscosity products. Approximately 100 people are employed at the plant, which has already achieved more than 1.8 million work hours without a recordable incident since construction began in early 2014. The plant is currently in commercial production after a successful trial productions period.

"The Mailiao plant will enable Kraton to serve the growing Asian and export markets more effectively than ever before through higher production capacity of our differentiated grades of HSBC," said Kevin M. Fogarty, Kraton's President and Chief Executive Officer. "The plant is a demonstration of our continued commitment to innovation through investments in state-of-the-art infrastructure and organic growth in key markets."

The Mailiao plant is owned and operated by Kraton Formosa Polymers Company, a joint venture between Kraton and Formosa Petrochemical Corp.  

About Kraton Corporation   

Kraton Corporation (NYSE "KRA") is a leading global producer of styrenic block copolymers, specialty polymers and high-value performance products derived from pine wood pulping co-products. Kraton's polymers are used in a wide range of applications, including adhesives, coatings, consumer and personal care products, sealants and lubricants, and medical, packaging, automotive, paving, roofing and footwear products. As the largest global provider in the pine chemicals industry, the company's pine-based specialty products are sold into adhesive, road and construction and tire markets, and it produces and sells a broad range of chemical intermediates into markets that include fuel additives, oilfield chemicals, coatings, metalworking fluids and lubricants, inks, flavors and mining. Kraton offers its products to a diverse customer base in over 70 countries worldwide. Kraton, the Kraton logo and design are all trademarks of Kraton Corporation, or its subsidiaries or affiliates.