The antioxidant production facility of Gulf Stabilizers Industries (GSI) will be fully operational by November, according to the Jubail-based company.

Gulf Stabilizers Industries is a joint venture between the A H Al Zamil Group, one of Saudi Arabia's leading industrial manufacturing companies, and Great Lakes Chemical Corporation of the US.

The GIS board of directors recently met to review the first phase of the plant's physical form expansion that will bring capacity up to 6,000 tonnes per year.

The meeting was attended by Abdul Aziz Al-Zamil, chief of the executive committee of the Al-Zamil Group; Mark Bulriss, president, chairman and CEO of Great Lakes Chemical Corporation; and Abdulrahman Al-Zamil, chairman of the board of Al-Zamil Group.

The meeting discussed the plant's successful commissioning and start-up of the plant.

"Gulf Stabilizers Industries is the first manufacturer of polymer additives in the Mideast," Ali A Al-Ghamdi, the company president said.

"The region has emerged as one of the fastest growing markets for polyolefins production, and we are establishing the leading position. Located next door to our customers gives GSI the advantage of overnight delivery of quality product to the polymer industry."

Production of Great Lakes Chemical Corporation's No Dust Blend (NDB) line of antioxidants at GSI was launched in April last year.

This range of products meet the same demanding specifications and use the same methods as those products produced by Great Lakes in five other manufacturing sites. Raw materials are supplied by Great Lakes' approved suppliers.

No Dust Blend technology enables multiple polymer additives to be incorporated in non-dusting physical forms, thereby removing the need for customers to import individual raw materials, which could subsequently reduce administrative burden and logistics costs.

Gulf Stabilizers Industries was formed in December 1999 in response to the growing demand in the Middle East for local raw material production and local support for the rapid expansion in polyolefin and other plastic manufacturing industries in the region.

Great Lakes Chemical Corporation is believed to be the world's leading producer of various specialty chemicals for such applications as flame retardants, polymer stabilisers, fire extinguishants, water treatment, as well as a growing line of performance and fine chemicals for the life sciences industry. The stock of the company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange.