Afrox

polypropylene, propylene oxide, base materials, high density polyethylene, HDPE, packaging, pipe fabrication, ethylene acrylic acid resins, copolymers, thermoplastic powder coatings, adhesives, dispersions, encapsulants, binders, protective coatings, dow plastics, sentrachem, safripol, carcinogen, synthetic rubber, karbochem

The core products manufactured by Dow in South Africa at the Sasolburg site are polypropylene and polyethylene base materials (high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene). These products are used for applications such as packaging, pipe fabrication and other industrial applications

Sentrachem, a South African chemical company, was launched in 1967 when National Chemical Products (NCP), the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Federale Volksbeleggings (FVB) pooled their chemical interests into a single entity.

In 1969, a joint project between Sentrachem and Hoechst SA was created to produce high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene raw plastic, these in turn being used in the manufacture of plastic products. It began operations at a 45 hectare plant in Sasolburg trading as Safripol, with Dow Plastic Southern Africa being a distributing agent for Safripol’s products. The plant is situated in the western industrial site of Sasolburg, next to the Natref Refinery, approximately 6 km from the town centre and close to the Vaal River. The site is approximately 45 hectares.

The Dow Chemical Company successfully acquired control of Sentrachem in December 1997 and it was renamed Dow-Sentachem. In April 1999, Dow purchased Hoechst’s 50% holding in Safripol increasing its own holding share to 100% and the operation was renamed Dow Plastics. Dow, through its 1997 acquisition of Sentrachem, gained ownership of Karbochem, a Sasolburg manufacturer of synthetic rubber products since 1964.

Propylene oxide is a potential occupational carcinogen and is on the EPA (USA) list of hazardous air pollutants.

PHOTO GALLERY

MAP

WEBSITE

CONTACT DETAILS