– Jody Norwood/Tribune-Courier || Expansion at Lubrizol Advanced Materials (above) will help secure 79 jobs in Calvert City.

Lubrizol announces expansion

Carbopol polymer
producer will secure
79 current jobs

By Jody Norwood
Tribune-Courier News Editor
jnorwood@tribunecourier.com

BENTON – An Ohio-based company is planning to invest about $40 million in its Calvert City operation. Lubrizol Advanced Materials, of Wickliffe, Ohio, and members of Kentucky’s Cabinet for Economic Development announced last week the company would be expanding its facility, which is currently housed in part of the former BF Goodrich plant.

“I am elated about the Lubrizol project. What a wonderful statement of confidence in Lubrizol’s Calvert City employee team,” said Calvert City Mayor Lynn Jones. “The announcement is a great encouragement for Calvert City, as well as, for the Lubrizol employees. I’m excited for Lubrizol.”

Lubrizol plans to construct a new building on an adjacent site to its current facility and will install new equipment and infrastructure to accommodate additional production lines. The new lines will utilize an advanced, proprietary process technology that will help sustain the viability of the plant and improve its ability to continue to provide customers with high quality products.

The expansion will help secure an estimated 79 jobs at Lubrizol. Temporary jobs will also be created during the course of construction.

The Calvert City site specializes in the production of Carbopol polymers, which are used in a number of refillable or consumable applications. According to a release from Lubrizol, this expansion will include advanced, proprietary process technology that will improve the ability of the Calvert City facility to continue production.

“Strengthening our portfolio is one of Lubrizol’s strategies for growth, and investing in our physical infrastructure is one way to accomplish this goal,” said Tom Malafronte, senior vice president and general manager, Noveon Consumer Specialties. “Investments like those planned for Calvert City will ensure that we continue to deliver the security of supply and level of service that makes us the supplier of choice for our customers.”

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved Lubrizol Advanced Materials for tax incentives up to $3 million through the Kentucky Reinvestment Act, a program that was expanded in the Governor’s Incentives for a New Kentucky bill last summer to assist companies that need to make significant capital investment in Kentucky facilities in order to remain competitive.

The Lubrizol Corporation owns and operates manufacturing facilities in 17 countries, as well as sales and technical offices around the world. Founded in 1928, Lubrizol has approximately 6,700 employees worldwide. Revenues for 2009 were $4.6 billion.

For more information, visit www.lubrizol.com.