Honeywell International Inc. (Charlotte, N.C.) announced its Baton Rouge, LA., facility has doubled production capacity of Honeywell Solstice ze (HFO-1234ze), an ultra-low-global-warming-potential (GWP) and energy-efficient solution compared to other current technologies. Solstice ze is used in foam insulation, as an aerosol propellant, and in refrigeration and air conditioning applications.
Solstice ze is part of Honeywell’s Solstice line of products based on hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) technology, which helps customers reduce their environmental impact and increase energy efficiency without sacrificing end-product performance or safety. With multiple regulations stemming from the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, the demand for lower-GWP solutions continues to grow. This investment will help ensure global supply needs are met.
“Expanding capacity to produce Solstice ze at our Baton Rouge facility demonstrates Honeywell’s ongoing commitment to providing our customers with ready-now solutions that support their environmental transformations,” said Laura Reinhard, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Foam and Industrial Products. “We will continue to invest in this important technology to help our customers around the world meet regulatory requirements and decrease their carbon footprint.”
Honeywell has invested more than one billion dollars in research, development and new capacity for its Solstice technology, having anticipated the need for lower-GWP solutions to combat climate change more than a decade ago. The product line includes refrigerants for supermarkets, air conditioning for cars and trucks, blowing agents for insulation, aerosol propellants, solvents for cleaning solutions, and is being evaluated for use in metered dose inhalers.