Demand Leads To Investment for Dow Performance Fluids Business, Makers of UCON and SYNALOX Fluids & Lubricants
New capabilities to support growth in Asian region

Philadelphia, PA - May 08, 2007

DowPerformance Fluids is expanding its production capacity and technology capabilities in several key locations across the world. Dow announced many of the facility expansions and new resources during the STLE Tradeshow, in Philadelphia, PA. 

Examples of Dow’s investments for growth include:

  • A multi-million dollar investment in new production at Dow’s existing Tarragona, Spain facility that will result in 500,000 pounds per year of new capacity.


  • A multi-million dollar investment to enhance existing production capabilities for rotary screw air compressor lubricants at Dow’s Texas Operations.


  • A complete refurbishment and modernization of manufacturing control equipment at Dow’s West Virginia Operations that will result in greater production efficiencies and higher quality fluids.


  • A 30% increase in manufacturing capacity at West Virginia Operations due to efficiencies realized from successful application of Dow’s Six Sigma methodologies.

Enhanced global production and manufacturing capabilities at Dow’s Optimal JV in Malaysia to supply Asia Pacific and India.

Flexibility & Capability

Dow Performance Fluids has a long history of commercial successes.  This record of R&D success continues today with the ongoing development and manufacture of fluids to meet today’s performance demands.  For example, Dow recently introduced a new line of water soluble lubricant base stocks (known as UCON™ 60-H Fluids) that offer high thermo-oxidative stability, low pour points, and other improvements over earlier generation synthetic base stocks.

Combinatorial Chemistry Adds To Capability

Dow is now able to rapidly develop and test new formulations by successful adaptation of innovative high throughput experimentation (HTE) technology, which originated from the pharmaceutical industry. HTE, also known as combinatorial chemistry, uses advanced computer modeling and robotics to identify promising compounds for further testing, then manufacture and distribution.  “Our new R&D capability and testing facilities gives us a big advantage in cultivating, making and offering new products much sooner than would otherwise be possible,” said Dr. Steven Stanley, global business director for Dow Performance Fluids. “Because of our advanced research and manufacturing know-how we can accelerate testing and new product development time to an unprecedented level.”

On The Near Horizon

Dow’s investment will soon yield new water glycol hydraulic fluids, food grade lubes, gear lubes, and quenchants.  Dow will also soon announce it is supplying fluids for applications as diverse as LNG regasification and electricity generating windmills.  “The future of Dow’s Performance Fluids business is very bright,” Stanley said. “These recent investments signal an increasingly successful future for Dow and its customers.”

About Dow

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For Editorial Information:

Harold Nicoll, APR
The Dow Chemical Company
(989) 636-5162