DELISLE, Miss. -- Less than five months after the DuPont titanium dioxide (TiO2) manufacturing plant near here suffered a direct hit from Hurricane Katrina, the company today announced that manufacturing operations have resumed at the site. TiO2 is a white pigment used widely in the coatings, paper and plastics industries.
"The work done at DeLisle since the hurricane represents a huge step toward resumption of normal production levels at that plant," said Richard C. Olson, vice president and general manager of DuPont Titanium Technologies. "All of our other TiO2 plants in the United States, Mexico and Taiwan are scheduled to capacity and performing well. We're literally working around the clock to restore DeLisle to that point, as well."
Virtually every electrical and electronic system at the plant had to be replaced or rebuilt. However, major structural damage to the site was prevented by stringent DuPont engineering standards applied to its original construction. In addition, immense quantities of debris had to be removed and infrastructure such as railroad tracks had to be rebuilt. The total cost of repairs has not yet been determined.
"Our customers have been extremely patient during this period and we have done our best to help them acquire the product they needed. We thank them for their cooperation and patience in working with us during DeLisle's outage" said Ian C. Edwards, global business director for DuPont Titanium Technologies. "With the restart of DeLisle, our immediate objective is to get the plant up and running as quickly as possible in time to satisfy the heavier market demand that normally occurs in the northern hemisphere's spring."
Shortly after assessing storm damage to the plant, DuPont declared to its customers that a "force majeure" event had occurred, preventing and excusing DuPont from performing its obligations under supply contracts. DuPont anticipates that the force majeure declaration will be lifted once DeLisle production is stable and reliable.
DuPont Titanium Technologies is the world's largest manufacturer of TiO2, serving customers globally in the coatings, paper and plastics industries. The company recently announced plans to build a world-scale manufacturing plant at Dongying, China, that is expected to commence operations in 2010. DuPont currently operates plants at DeLisle, Miss.; New Johnsonville, Tenn.; Edge Moor, Del.; Altamira, Mexico; and Kuan Yin, Taiwan, as well as a finishing plant at Uberaba, Brazil. All of the production plants use the chloride manufacturing process. Technical service centers are located in Uberaba; Mechelen, Belgium; Kuan Yin; Wilmington, Del.; and Shanghai, China, to serve the European, Middle Eastern, U.S. and Asian markets. DuPont operates a titanium ore surface mine near Starke, Fla.
DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.
