Italian Manufacturer To Invest $20 Million In New Facility

The Esseco Group will invest as much as $20 million to establish its first U.S. manufacturing site at the Bayer CropScience Institute Site Manufacturing Industrial Park in Kanawha County, creating as many as 30 new jobs. The Italian company manufactures sulfur-based chemicals (sulfites in crystal and liquid form), processing aids for wine-making and sulfur for industry and agriculture.

During the upcoming months, Esseco and Bayer CropScience engineers will work with contractors to develop the detailed design for the facility, with costs expected to range from $15 million to $20 million, and secure the necessary environmental permits. Pending the successful completion of these activities, construction may begin as early as spring 2006, with operations beginning in early 2007.

The plant, to occupy about nine acres at the Institute site, will produce sodium metabisulfite, sodium sulfite and sodium bisulfite solution, which are used in many industries such as water treatment, food preservatives, gas cleaning in power stations as well as in the manufacture of chemicals, photo processing, surfactants and pharmaceuticals.