Eastman expands Tritan capacity

– Eastman Chemical is to expand capacity for Tritan, an innovative copolyester that the company launched last October. The project, to be completed by late 2009, includes both new manufacturing facilities and the conversion of some existing operations. According to Eastman Chemical, Tritan combines the advantages of traditional copolyesters, such as clarity and chemical resistance, with higher heat resistance, improved design flexibility and ease of processing. Applications include appliances and extruded sheet, where customers value the material’s toughness, temperature resistance, dishwasher durability, and freedom from the plasticizer bisphenol-A (BPA). Two recently launched products made with Tritan are CamelBak water bottles and Vita-Mix blenders. “We anticipate continued annual growth of 6–8 percent for the global copolyester market, including our new-generation copolyester, Tritan,” said Dante Rutstrom, vice president and general manager of Eastman’s specialty plastics business. “This product has been well received by customers and consumers. We are completing this expansion so that we can continue to grow with the market demand in the coming years,” Rutstrom said. “The investment will add significant production capacity for Tritan and demonstrates Eastman’s commitment to investing in innovative technologies developed in response to market and customer needs.”