Honeywell Triples Production Capacity of Low-Global-Warming Blowing Agent

Recent upgrades at Buffalo, New York, facility will help meet growing demand for HFO-1234ze

News provided by

May 12, 2011, 09:00 ET

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, N.J., May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today that it has tripled production capacity for its low-global-warming-potential (GWP) product HFO-1234ze to meet the growing need for the material, which is used in multiple foam and aerosol applications.

The production expansion was made at Honeywell's small-scale HFO-1234ze manufacturing facility at its Buffalo Research Lab in Buffalo, N.Y. It was achieved through equipment upgrades and overall productivity improvements during the last 18 months.

"In the last several quarters, Honeywell has seen a significant increase in demand for HFO-1234ze from the aerosol and foam industries, and a number of customers have signed long-term contracts," said Terrence Hahn, vice president and general manager for Honeywell's Fluorine Products business. "We are committed to meeting the demands of our foam and aerosol industry customers both now and in the future."

HFO-1234ze was accepted for use in foam and aerosols by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in June 2010. Earlier this year, the agency allowed HFO-1234ze to be sold in the U.S.

The material is non-flammable, non-ozone depleting and has a GWP of 6. HFO-1234ze can replace HFC-134a (with a GWP of 1,430) and HFC-152a (with a GWP of 124) in aerosol applications and thermal insulating foams including extruded polystyrene board. It is also being considered to replace HFC-134a for chiller applications

Honeywell's Buffalo Research Lab is where Honeywell pioneered the development of hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs), which are a family of unique products that offer similar performance properties to today's most widely used refrigerants, blowing agents and aerosol propellants, but with the added benefit of having very low global warming potentials. For more information about Honeywell's Buffalo Research Lab, visit www.honeywell-buffalo.com.

HFO-1234ze is currently used in the U.S., Europe and Japan. The majority of HFO-1234ze demand is from Europe. In addition to HFO-1234ze, Honeywell has developed HFO-1234yf, which is being adopted by automobile manufacturers as a replacement for the current hydrofluorocarbon used in automobile air conditioning, HFC-134a.

For more information about Honeywell's low-GWP products, visit www.abettercool.com.

Honeywell Specialty Materials is a global leader in providing customers with high-performance specialty materials, including fluorine products; specialty films and additives; advanced fibers and composites; intermediates; specialty chemicals; electronic materials and chemicals; and technologies and materials for petroleum refining.

Honeywell International (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com.

This release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that we or our management intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon certain assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. The forward-looking statements included in this release are also subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors affecting our operations, markets, products, services and prices. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by such forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Honeywell