Emerald closing Illinois accelerator site

Emerald Performance Materials L.L.C. is closing a chemical plant in Henry, Illinois, a move that will impact more than 50 workers at the facility. Layoffs at the plant will begin April 6 and be completed by June 30. News of the plant closure follows the February announcement that Lanxess A.G. would acquire Emerald Kalama Chemical, a business unit of Emerald Performance Materials, for $1 billion. That deal, which is expected to close in the second half of 2021, included Emerald’s operations in Kalama, Washington, Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Widnes, England, but did not include the Illinois plant. Among other products, the Henry, Illinois plant produces sulfenamide accelerators.