Solenis Announces $193M New Plant Expansion and Key R&D Investments

Solenis recently announced plans to invest $193 million in expanding existing operations in Suffolk, Va.

Plans include the construction of an 80,000-square foot facility focused on production, packaging, and housing a tank farm. Solenis will also create a new rail spur for polyvinylamine (PVAm) polymer production. The project is anticipated to create 34 jobs.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership joined Solenis in the announcement regarding the facility located in the port region of Hampton Roads.

“Solenis is a global leader in the specialty chemical industry with a 40-year history in the City of Suffolk, and this major investment and expansion demonstrates that manufacturing is thriving in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin said in a news release. “Hampton Roads has the skilled workforce, business climate, and logistics advantages, including our world-class port, to enable Solenis to add significant capacity to supply the international paper manufacturing market.”

“As demand rises for sustainable manufacturing operations, this new facility not only ensures we have capacity to supply the paper packaging market, it will also help us diversify into other applications that can drive additional growth.”
John Panichella, CEO, Solenis

Headquartered in Wilmington, Del., Solenis is a global manufacturer of specialty chemicals used in water-intensive industries.

“This investment is part of our ongoing commitment to provide value for customers while helping them advance their sustainability initiatives,” Solenis CEO John Panichella said. “As demand rises for sustainable manufacturing operations, this new facility not only ensures we have capacity to supply the paper packaging market, it will also help us diversify into other applications that can drive additional growth.”

Last spring, Solenis opened a $5 million research and development facility in Monchengladbach, Germany. Later this year, Solenis will accelerate its investment in R&D with the $40 million expansion and relocation of its center near global headquarters in the Philadelphia area. The additions to Solenis’ global footprint will join fairly new facilities in China and Brazil.

Platinum Equity acquired Solenis in 2021 for $5.25 billion. Last year, Solenis acquired Diversey in an all-cash transaction valued at $4.6 billion.