FRX Polymers Inc. has started construction of a plant to make flame retardant polyphosphonate products at Scheldelaan in Antwerp, Belgium.
A ground breaking ceremony was held on Sept. 20 and was attended by local dignitaries and industry representatives.
Chelmsford-based FRX said this will be the first fully commercial manufacturing plant for its Nofia branded flame retardant polymers, copolymers, and oligomers. It also has a pilot plant in Chelmsford and a semi-commercial plant in Domat-Ems, Switzerland.
The new plant is located on Bayer AG’s open chemical site, where two of the three basic components that FRX needs for its plant are produced.
“The location of this site in the port of Antwerp was a strategic choice for us,” said Marc Lebel, president and CEO of FRX. “We are here in the very heart of chemical production in Europe. We have highly qualified people and can call on world class logistic facilities.”
Kris Peeters, minister-president of the government of Flanders, said the local authority had provided a loan guarantee and provided 1 million euros in strategic investment support for the plant. He said it would create 35 new jobs.
The new facility is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2013.