OMNOVA Solutions Broadens Global Availability of Specialty Resins For Water-borne Coatings Market

FAIRLAWN, Ohio, June 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- OMNOVA Solutions (NYSE: OMN) announced the completion of a major capabilities expansion at its Le Havre, France manufacturing facility, which will enable the Company to increase its capacity to produce specialty acrylic resins for water-borne coatings.  This multi-million euro expansion features semi-continuous polymerization and builds upon OMNOVA's existing capabilities for acrylic water-based chemistries in the United States in order to enhance regional service to customers in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

"We are seeing increased market demand for water-based coating solutions, particularly in Europe.  This investment in new capabilities at our Le Havre site demonstrates our commitment to growing with our global customers with quality manufacturing and regional supply," said Jim Hohman, President of OMNOVA Solutions' Performance Chemicals division.  "There is the added benefit of being close to our Villejust, France technology center, where much of our coatings development work is done."

"This new capability is coming on-line at just the right time," said Rick Sandford, General Manager of OMNOVA's global Coating Specialties business, which is based in Villejust.  "We have recently introduced a number of exciting innovations under the Pliotec brand, which offer the environmental advantages of a water-based resin that can tackle difficult challenges in architectural and industrial applications.  These products will be globally available from Le Havre as well as from our U.S. production facilities in Akron, Ohio; Chester, South Carolina and Fitchburg, Massachusetts."

OMNOVA's new products include:

• Pliotec® HDT 12 – This APE-free, low VOC resin is specifically designed for the formulation of high gloss, anti-corrosion direct-to-metal coatings, with superior adhesion to ferrous and non-ferrous metals and excellent water resistance properties.
• Pliotec SA40 – This dispersion is particularly suitable for pigmented masonry primers, providing excellent resistance to alkali and efflorescence, even on fresh concrete and mortars.
• Pliotec LEB 18 – This Low Exudation Binder for facade coatings allows paint manufacturers to significantly reduce surfactant leaching ("snail trails") while offering durable protection and perfect decoration.

To learn more about these and other products in OMNOVA's specialty resins portfolio, contact Jean-Marie Schmuck at [email protected].

OMNOVA Solutions is a technology-based company with 2013 sales of US$1 billion and a global workforce of approximately 2,300.  OMNOVA is an innovator of emulsion polymers, specialty chemicals, and functional and decorative surfaces for a variety of commercial, industrial and residential end uses.  The company is headquartered in Fairlawn, Ohio, USA, and serves a global marketplace from 10 chemical production facilities in Europe, Asia and the U.S.  The regional headquarters for Europe is in Villejust, France.  The business has representative offices in Europe, Asia and the Americas and an extensive network of distributors and agents strategically located around the world.  Visit OMNOVA Solutions on the internet at www.omnova.com.

PLIOTEC is a registered trademark of OMNOVA Solutions.

NOTE:  Pliotec LEB 18 is currently available only in Europe, the Middle East and India.

SOURCE OMNOVA Solutions