Croda Inc dedicated its two new innovation centers at its Atlas Point manufacturing site in New Castle, DE on Oct. 23.  Through reclamation and renovation of buildings on the former SPI Polyols manufacturing site, Croda has created new facilities for its state of the art R&D laboratories as well as a modern commercial center. Croda has invested $20 million in the site since acquiring the facility through the acquisition of Uniqema from ICI in 2006.

The William C. Griffin Innovation Center, named in honor of William Griffin a longtime employee at the site and a significant contributor to the chemical industry as the inventor of the Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance System (HLB System), will house Croda’s industrial research and development laboratories.  It will support innovation in the industrial markets of crop care, lubricants, oilfield, coatings, and polymer additives. The Atlas Point Commercial Center will be home to Croda’s Skin Care Innovation Laboratory, which will support skin care product concepts for the personal care industry, as well as office space for Croda’s industrial sales team.

“Investments, such as these, in the Atlas Point manufacturing site will only allow Croda to be more competitive in the marketplace and further support our standing as a world class supplier of quality chemical specialties,” said Kevin Gallagher, president, Croda Inc.  “The investments will improve efficiency, safety, and innovation as these new research spaces house some of the most state of the art equipment in our organization. Equipment that allows us to synthesize and test the next generation of Croda’s innovative new products.”

These building renovations are some of the first steps in some major renovations at the Atlas Point manufacturing facility.  Future renovations are expected to include: investments in infrastructure, including upgrades in steam, electrical and sewer systems, laboratory and office buildings and other general site improvements, improvements for employee safety and process risk reduction and increased productivity at the facility through energy and waste water reduction, employee efficiency and improved output.