October 5, 2011 – Dow Electrical & Telecommunications—a business unit of The Dow Chemical Co.—announced a series of investments in assets that serve wire and cable sector customers. The investments include modernization of its manufacturing facilities in Seadrift, Texas, and Schkopau, Germany.

“Higher-voltage applications continue to grow in every region of the world, and this modernization project will enable us to achieve increased reliability, performance and capacity enhancements—especially in our HV and EHV product lines,” said Tim Laughlin, general manager, Dow Electrical & Telecommunications.

The improvements at Seadrift comprise new technology and enhanced capabilities to produce Dow Endurance HFDC 4202 EC insulation, Dow’s next-generation medium voltage (MV) offering, as well as jacket and insulation compounds for high-voltage (HV) and extra-high-voltage (EHV) applications. Upgraded process controls also are being implemented along with next-generation “Most Effective Technology (MET)” for reaction and crosslinkable polyethylene material facilities.

In Schkopau, similar MET for crosslinkable polyethylene power cable insulation production is being executed.