Versalis (Milan / Italy; www.versalis.eni.com) has opened an EPDM rubber production facility at its site in Ferrara / Italy. With a capacity of 50,000 t/y, the unit is now mainly to supply the automotive sector. The Italian company, a petrochemical subsidiary of state-owned oil and gas company Eni (Rome; www.eni.com), has invested more than EUR 250m in revamping the facility, converting an existing elastomer plant and installing a new production line.

The company will hire 45 new employees for production and related services in Ferrara, and another 50 for outsourced activities. Versalis also operates LDPE production facilities and a research centre at this location with 330 employees. In addition, this site sees an average of 180 contractors each day.