Trinseo to close polycarbonate plant

Trinseo plans to close its polycarbonate plant in Stade, Germany, by next January. The company disclosed in March that it was in discussions with the plant’s works council for a possible closure. Trinseo will buy the polycarbonate, which it uses for acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene blends, from outside suppliers. It estimates that the change will save it up to $20 million annually. The company is also combining its engineered materials, plastic solutions, and polystyrene businesses into a single unit—a move that will yield $30 million in annual savings.