DSM-Firmenich to permanently close Pinova plant

Switzerland-based nutrition and fragrances group DSM-Firmenich will permanently close a facility in southeast US after a fire at a terpene resins area, the company said today.

The fire on 15 April destroyed core production assets and infrastructure and caused all site operations at its Pinova facility in Brunswick, Georgia, to shut down, it said. DSM-Firmenich did not provide a timeline for the closure, which will affect 200 employees.

DSM-Firmenich is a venture between Dutch specialty chemicals producer DSM and Swiss flavour and fragrances maker Firmenich. Pinova is a subsidiary of French-based pine chemicals producer DRT, which Firmenich acquired in 2020.

"Reopening the site would require substantial demolition and reconstruction, costs and time," the company said. "After a careful review, it was decided to invest and add capacity in other production sites within the DSM-Firmenich network."

The Pinova plant produces terpene resins, wood rosin and gum rosin. DSM-Firmenich said it will try to secure supply of these ingredients by leveraging other production units.

"Pinova is committed to working with its valued clients to transition to new suppliers, as available," DSM-Firmenich said.

The Pinova fire was the second at a chemical plant in the area in less than a year. There were multiple explosions at flavour and fragrance producer Symrise's Colonel's Island facility, near Brunswick, on 7 November 2022, and the company halted operations. A month later, on 9 December 2022, Symrise said it resumed activities at facilities producing fragrance ingredient dihydromyrcenol, a monoterpenoid used in perfumery.

The terpene resins produced by Pinova are used in adhesives, construction specialties, flavours, fragrances, personal care and other household items.

By Leonardo Siqueira