PRIMESTER Manufacturing Process

Fluor provided engineering, procurement and construction services to build the state-of-the-art PRIMESTER manufacturing process in Kingsport, Tennessee.

The process produced 130 million pounds per year of cellulose acetate, a polymer used primarily as a filtration media for filter tow.

Client's Challenge

PRIMESTER was a joint venture between Rhône-Poulenc SA and Eastman Chemical Company. For this project, Eastman Chemical and Rhône-Poulenc supplied the basic process package combining the best aspects of both companies’ process technology. The new plant was built adjacent to existing Eastman facilities.

Fluor's Solution

Fluor was contracted to assist in the front-end package development and performed detail design, procurement and construction. The Fluor team completed the project under budget and two months ahead of schedule.

Conclusion

The PRIMESTER manufacturing process was completed in 1993.