National Starch and Chemical Company, headquartered in Bridgewater, NJ, USA, has expanded its Salisbury, NC, USA plant to increase production of adhesives, synthetic polymers and electronic materials.

National says its multimillion-dollar investment in the new facility will accelerate the company’s efforts to supply innovative adhesives to the pressure sensitive and transdermal markets, specialty polymers to the hair care and skin care markets, and custom resins and fillers used in the manufacture of adhesives, coatings and encapsulants for electronic assembly.

The expansion adds more than 10,000 square feet of production area to the existing Salisbury manufacturing site. More than 30 new employees have been hired.

“The opening of this manufacturing facility completes a multi-year program to develop a center of excellence in the pressure sensitive and transdermal adhesives markets,” says Jim Owens, corporate vice president, general manager, adhesives — North America.

The new specialty organics plant and filler processing facility for National’s Electronic Materials Division will increase the division’s captive manufacturing capacity of custom resins and fillers used in adhesives, coatings and encapsulants for electronics assembly, according to Alan Syzdek, group VP, electronic materials.

National Starch and Chemical Company, a member of the ICI Group, is a worldwide manufacturer of adhesives, specialty polymers, electronic materials and specialty starches, with 2005 sales of $3.34 billion.