New Elevance product to be produced locally

Published 12:05 am Thursday, June 12, 2014

NATCHEZ — Elevance Renewable Sciences announced this week the launch of a new product that will be produced in Natchez.

Elevance announced a commitment to bring 165 jobs to Adams County when it purchased the former Delta Biofuels in 2011, and is in the process of converting the biodiesel manufacturing facility into a biorefinery that will produce a line of renewable chemicals.

The company announced Tuesday a new line of products — Elevance Clean 1200 — was available. The line is currently being produced in the company’s Gresick, Indonesia plant.

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“Elevance Clean 1200 will be a product that is produced through the Natchez facility starting in 2016 and will bolster our supply chain for this product,” Elevance Senior Vice President for Consumer and Industrial Ingredients Andy Corr said.

Elevance Clean 1200 — which is produced from natural oils — will be used to remove industrial-grade complex greases, paraffin waxes, automotive lubricants, metalworking fluids and corrosion-preventative oils.

It can also be used to clean industrial food processing greases such as animal and plant lipids and cooking oils and greases, according to the company.

Adams County Board of Supervisors President Darryl Grennell said seeing the company announce the availability of new products is a positive testimony about its future in Adams County.

“Elevance is definitely an asset to Natchez-Adams County, no question about it,” he said. “They have a technology that is going to be tremendous, and it is going to have a positive impact all around the world.

“I think in Adams County — as a result of the Elevance project — we are going to see several spin-off (industries), not only those locating here to be their suppliers, companies that will use their products to manufacture something themselves.”

The board of supervisors renewed last week a memorandum of understanding with the company about its commitment. The county agreed to improve infrastructure in the Natchez-Adams County Port area — including upgrading rail service in the port and adding a liquid loading dock — as part of the Elevance industrial recruiting package.