Hancock County leads in polymer,  advanced materials manufacturing

July 31, 2015

Nearly 20 years ago in 1996, Hancock County found itself on the front page of nearly every worldwide polymer industry publication as a result of its successful effort to land the Wellman polymer manufacturing facility at Port Bienville Industrial Park.

About that same time, Norman C. Billingham, a British chemist in the field of polymer chemistry at the University of Sussex, wrote an important treatise concerning the world-changing benefits of polymers and plastics. "From packaging materials, through fibers, foams and surface coatings, to continuous extrusions and large-scale moldings, plastics have transformed almost every aspect of life," Billingham wrote in 1996. "Without them, much of modern medicine would be impossible and the consumer electronics and computer industries would disappear."

Fast forward 20 years. Today, the original Wellman facility has grown and expanded into one of the most important PET Plastic Resin manufacturing facilities in the world, owned and operated by DAK Americas, producing resins that are used in a variety of applications that intersect with virtually every aspect of our daily lives. Port Bienville is also home to several other world leaders in the polymer industry, including SABIC Innovative Plastics, which manufactures a variety of polymers and advanced materials used throughout the world economy in industries such as the automotive industry; SNF Polychemie, which manufacturers polymers used worldwide in the water treatment industry; and even small firms like MAC LLC., which manufactures polymer ammunition components used by the Department of Defense.

This month we dedicate our newsletter to two tremendous competitive advantages that have allowed Hancock County to serve as Mississippi's capital for polymer and advanced materials manufacturing. The first, the Mississippi Polymer Institute, which works in conjunction with the University of Southern Mississippi's School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, provides the expertise that helps make South Mississippi one of the most attractive regions in the nation for the location and expansion of polymer industries. The second, The Hancock County Career Technical Center's award-winning Polymer Science Program, prepares Hancock and Harrison County high school students for the polymer industry jobs of tomorrow.

This month, we also feature exciting news about Power Dynamics, a growing company based at Stennis Space Center that serves as an industry leader in fluid power systems.

On behalf of our entire team, we thank all of you for your continuing efforts to make Hancock County the premier place to do business in South Mississippi. We look forward to our ongoing partnership with you as we take Hancock County to new economic horizons and beyond. 

Sincerely,

Ashley Edwards