A fire broke out during planned maintenance at the ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers (EVOH) production plant operated by Kuraray (Tokyo / Japan; www.kuraray.co.jp) in Pasadena, Texas / USA, injuring 21 employees. Initial investigations have shown that the fire was caused by the release of ethylene from a polymerisation reactor, the company reports. Eighteen of the injured employees have been discharged from hospital, but two have suffered serious injuries.

"Eval" brand EVOH is produced at the Pasadena site. It is the world's largest EVOH plant with four production lines and a total capacity of 47,000 t/y, but further expansion measures are intended to boost the potential production volume to 58,000 t/y in the course of 2018 – see Plasteurope.com of 31.05.2016. The company did not provide any information on when the plant will be coming onstream again, or on the planned expansion, but local media are speaking of a shutdown that will last several days. At the time of the accident, 266 Kuraray employees as well as employees of external companies were on site.

With a world market share of 65%, Kuraray is the leading producer of EVOH. In addition to a plant in Okayama / Japan, the company operates a third facility in Antwerp / Belgium, with a capacity that was expanded to 35,000 t/y in 2016.