Houston, Texas-based KoSa (European HQ: Lyoner Strasse 38a, D-60528 Frankfurt), since acquiring the former Hoechst businesses one of the world´s largest polyester producers, plans to expand its PET packaging resins capacity in North America and Europe by a total of 360,000 t/y. This is in addition to a 65,000 t/y expansion planned to go onstream at Queretaro, Mexico, next month. The new capacity includes a 60,000 t/y train at Offenbach, Germany, scheduled for completion in Q4 2001, and two new 150,000 t/y plants to start up in mid to late 2002.

The location of the new lines is to be announced on completion of phase one engineering late this year. KoSa´s new ceo, George Gregory, said KoSa “will continue to consider additional cost-effective expansion in PET resins should the opportunities present themselves.” Kevin Fogarty, vice president and general manager of the company´s packaging resin business, said the expansion reflects the company´s strategy to focus on larger end-use applications. He said KoSa has recently developed new products for such growth markets as heat-set, hot-fill, beer and recycled-content packaging.