Nalco, an Ecolab company, has announced construction of a dry polymer production facility at the company's complex in Garyville, La. The 300,000 square-foot facility will produce dry polymer products for use in removing contaminants from wastewater, increasing production efficiency in the paper industry and recovering minerals in the mining industry.
When completed late this year, the dry polymer plant will increase facility space at the Garyville complex to one million square feet and add 22 full-time positions to the company's current Garyville workforce of 235 employees.
"For more than 40 years, the Garyville community has had a significant role in the growth of Nalco, and we are extremely proud of the products and results our local employees have produced," said Jim Seifert, executive vice president, Ecolab. "The new dry polymer facility further strengthens our relationship with the community and the State of Louisiana, and we look forward to opening this facility and providing our customers with another innovative product solution."
Louisiana GovernorBobby Jindal andSt. John the Baptist Parish PresidentNatalie Robottom attended an event to announce the construction project.
"Ecolab decided to reinvest in Louisiana because of the track record of production success the company has had in St. John the Baptist Parish, and most importantly, because Louisiana has some of the best workers in the world," said Governor Jindal. "The company's expansion is a testament to Louisiana's strong business climate and the reliable and hardworking men and women of Louisiana."
Nalco first opened a production facility in Garyville in 1970. Today, the Garyville complex comprises more than 220-acres and produces industrial water treatment products, such as corrosion and scale inhibitors, used in boilers and cooling towers; wastewater treatment products; and process chemicals used in the papermaking, mining, petroleum, steel, power generation, food and beverage, metalworking and aluminum refining industries.
"Nalco has been a successful company and great community partner in St. John the Baptist Parish for many years," said Parish President Robottom. "The merger with Ecolab, another successful company, reassures their continued support for our community."
In addition to the 22 full-time positions necessary to operate the new dry polymer facility, it will take approximately 350,000 man-hours to complete the project, the equivalent of 167 full-time construction jobs. Construction of the facility is expected to be completed in December 2012.
Source: Ecolab