An investment group comprised of Darlington, S.C.-based Darlington Development LLC — a unit of International Process Plants, Hamilton, N.J. — and Houston-based ARC Enterprises LLC is making moves to reopen the former Wellman Inc. Palmetto polyester fiber facility located in Darlington.
The facility was shut down in 2008 when Wellman entered bankruptcy. However, key safeguards were taken as the plant was closed down to facilitate a restart at some time in the future, and Darlington maintained the facility with the view that a restart could happen.
The investors recently filed an air permit application with South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control for the facility, which they consider a milestone toward reopening the plant. If the permit is granted, the companies hope to have the plant operational in 2017.
“I am very excited with the achievement of this milestone as it brings us one step closer to restarting the Palmetto facility and producing staple fiber and chip,” said Andrew Rosenfeld, ARC Enterprises partner.
“We believe that, if the air permit is approved, a restarted plant will provide at least 150 direct new jobs for the local community and bring to market a new low cost domestic provider of quality polyester product,” said a spokesperson for Darlington Development.
July/August 2016
