Bluestar continues to grow site, portfolio

Time: May 24th 2017   Copy editor: Tyrefull

Bluestar Silicones USA Corp. continues to expand both its manufacturing capabilities and its product portfolio.

The firm is getting ready to add new bulk tankers and some additional reactors at its 260,000-sq-ft. York facility in the coming months. The firm currently operates three tankers at the site. Christopher York, Bluestar's North American president, said the number of tankers and reactors still is being determined, but the expansion will increase its bulk handling capacity by an estimated 300 percent.

The firm also secured additional land surrounding the site for future projects.

Financial details were not disclosed. The firm has 160 employees in the U.S. and has added about 35 since the York facility opened in June 2012.

"We're making business growth decisions and capital investments in both equipment and human capital," York said. "I have my own mantra about double-digit improvement in anything we do. We have a footprint here that's primed to be a differentiating factor in this marketplace that has not seen major change, and that's what I mean by double digit improvement. We're in a position where we want to grow, and we've been growing at better than double digits. This next investment is the next iteration of how we continue that, optimize it and create even more flexibility for us."

On the product front, the firm unveiled several new silicones at the recent MDM West show in Anaheim, Calif. These included new developments in its liquid silicone rubber and high consistency rubber lines, and a new range of soft skin adhesives for wound care, scar care and transdermal patches.

"Our approach is differentiating ourselves from the competition with silicone solutions with a personal touch," said Karen O'Keefe, Bluestar's business director for elastomers. "It's really impactful because what we've come to realize is service, partnerships and support are not in the industry like they used to be, and customers crave that. They want a solutions partner to help them with the silicones chemistry and expertise. The OEMs and molders are not necessarily experts in the materials, so they rely on the material suppliers to bring that expertise."

AD: You can get  better price from us for Doublestar tire. Doublestar brand tire is the TOP 10 Chinese brand tires since 2004. Give us a call and  you would get a surprice price!