Momentive Specialty Chemicals completes North American technical centre expansion
Lab complex to focused on growth technologies
Specialty Chemicals Inc has hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for its expanded technical centre in Stafford, Texas, that will house a new technology group focused on product innovations to drive business growth.
The $3m expansion project at the Stafford technical centre, the company’s North American chemical research hub, will enable Momentive to add 20 new research and technical roles at the site. The 14,000 sq ft expansion includes new research labs, applications and testing areas, and office space. There are future expansion plans to add another 35 researchers at the site.
An additional expansion project at the site, slated to begin this fall and to be completed in the first quarter of 2012, will involve renovation of its existing 45,000 sq ft of space to build out additional office space. Upon completion, 45 Momentive associates currently housed in office space in downtown Houston will relocate to the Stafford site.
"We are excited about the formation of our new growth focused technology group, which will augment our existing R&D efforts by exploring new products, new technologies and new market opportunities,” said Rich Myers, executive vp, technology for Momentive. “We also are pleased to be able to continue to grow and invest here in Stafford, which is becoming an increasingly important location for us."
Momentive began operations at its Stafford centre, located at 12650 Directors Drive, in 2007. Since then the company has consolidated some of its North American chemical research there, as well as its epoxy specialties North American business operations. The move of additional personnel from downtown Houston will further expand the centre’s operations to include epoxy business, marketing, finance and supply chain functions.
Momentive Performance Materials Holdings LLC is the ultimate parent company of Momentive Specialty Chemicals Inc and Momentive Performance Materials Inc