Chemetall Opens New $25 Million Chemical Manufacturing Plant

Today is the day of the Grand Opening of Chemetall's new cutting-edge facility in Blackman Township, Michigan. Chemetall, a Rockwood Holdings, Inc. company, is an innovator in surface treatment and metal processing technologies. The $25 million chemical manufacturing plant covers 200,000 square feet to house administrative, manufacturing, warehousing operations, and a physical testing laboratory. As Rockwood Chairman and CEO Seifi Ghasemi said in a recent press release, the investment "reflects our confidence in the future growth of the US economy."

The plant, located at 1100 Technology Drive in Jackson, will officially open today, Wednesday, October 24, 2012. The opening day ceremony will start at 12 noon, with many state and local officials with whom the company worked in the development of the project in attendance. Over 900 Chemetall products will be produced at the 40-acre Blackman site for applications in surface treatment, metal fabrication, cleaning and sanitizing. "When we make things here and grow things here, we create jobs here in Michigan. The opening of this new cutting-edge facility is great news for the Jackson area and an economic boost to the region. Chemetall is precisely the type of innovative business Michigan is attracting, which is creating the new high-tech jobs of the future." U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow.

"The labor force, as well as the strong support from Blackman Township and the State of Michigan, made Blackman Township the most logical choice for our new plant. We have selected the best area talent to support our growing operations." said Dr. Ron Felber, CEO of Chemetall NAFTA.

Automation advancements, including bulk material handling systems, mixing vessels, and packaging lines, have been incorporated into Chemetall's Blackman Township facility to increase productivity as well as improve product yield and quality for customers. As a measure of its dedication to environmental sustainability, Chemetall has installed a semi-automated waste treatment system to reduce process wastewater by 90%. "High-tech additions to the new Blackman Township site ensure the efficiency of operations for the manufacture of the finest quality chemistries," stated Dr. Felber. "Customers can be assured of Chemetall's commitment to their satisfaction through our innovations and service from all of our facilities. Our mission is to integrate our decades of experience in close cooperation with our customers, employees, and communities to produce customized solutions that enhance processes as well as the environment."

Chemetall has been developing, manufacturing and supplying state-of-the-art specialty chemical products since 1909. The ISO 9001 company offers a wide spectrum of products ranging from metalworking fluids, drawing & stamping compounds to cleaners, rust preventatives and surface treatment chemistries. Chemetall's integrated products, chemical management systems, process equipment, and technical service programs deliver efficient and cost effective solutions for industrial manufacturing needs. Expect more with Chemetall.

Chemetall is a world-class specialty chemical company and a global provider of chemical technologies based in Frankfurt/Main, Germany. In addition to the North American headquarters in New Providence, New Jersey, other locations in the Americas include; Jackson, Michigan; La Mirada, California; Bramalea, Ontario; Jundiai, Sao Paulo Brazil, and Querétaro, México. Chemetall is a division of Rockwood Holdings Inc., a global specialty chemical and advanced material company trader on the New York Stock Exchange (ROC).