The decision to shut down Kemira's polymer manufacturing site in Columbus has been reversed as the demand for water treatment chemicals in the oil and gas industries is expected to increase. Previously the Columbus site in Georgia USA was primarily serving customers in the paper industry. The operations at the site have now been retooled to offer a tailored product mix to meet the needs of customers in the oil and gas industry.
Last year's decision to shut down the Columbus site was part of the refocusing of Kemira's paper chemicals business. The offering of paper chemicals is being adapted regionally to local customer needs. Kemira has taken measures over a period of several years to adjust its paper and pulp chemicals operations to the increasingly challenging market in order to strengthen its profitability. Over the last few years, six North American production facilities have been closed.
