Dow Emulsion Polymers Announces Plans to Idle Production at King’s Lynn, UK

Midland, MI - June 12, 2008

Dow Emulsion Polymers (DEP), a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company and its affiliates, announced today plans to stop production at its latex plant on the King's Lynn, UK site.  The intention is to idle the facility by September 1, 2008.  The number of jobs that will be impacted by this planned idling will be determined following a 30 day employee consultation.

This decision has been taken due to product overcapacity in the marketplace, low capacity utilization at the King’s Lynn facility, as well as rapidly increasing energy and raw material costs.

“Demand for emulsion polymer products remains strong in Asia, but is decreasing in Europe as a result of the current market dynamics and challenging conditions in the paper and carpet industry,” said Philippe Raynaud de Fitte, general manager, DEP.   “The planned idling of our facility in King’s Lynn is a difficult, but necessary decision to ensure that DEP’s competitive positioning remains strong into the future.”  

DEP customers supplied by the facility will have their needs fully met from other DEP plants in Europe. 

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For Editorial Information:

Jennifer Holzinger
Business Communications, Dow Emulsion Polymers
+1-989-636-8537

Sue Breach
Public Affairs, Dow UK
+44 (0) 203-139-4177