News

PINNACLE AIS

PinnacleAIS LLC, known as a rising star in oil and gas technology, is moving forward with plans to build on 18-acres in Pasadena. The site, bordered by Allen-Genoa, Strawberry and Hernandez Roads, will be the new home of the company’s state-of-the-art, eco-friendly corporate campus. Construction will break ground soon on the initial building, 9,000 SF of class A space, with completion anticipated in 2010. The company is a leading provider of services and technology specializing in improved asset integrity for the petroleum and chemical processing industries. The company currently employs 60 and plans to hire 30 to 40 more employees next year.

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NA INDUSTRIES

NA Industries, based in Chattanooga, TN, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Shokubai Co. LTD, headquartered in Osaka, Japan, will build a new $100 million plant to produce superabsorbent polymers. The product, also known as SAP, is used in diapers, surgical pads, and wound dressings. Location of the new facility will be next to American Acryl at 4923 Bayport Road (Old Hwy 146) on a 10-acre site in Pasadena’s Industrial District. It’s expected to be in operation by June 2012 and will have a production capacity of 60,000 metric tons per year. Sixty full-time jobs will be created.

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PORTAGAS

Portagas has purchased a 38,000 SF facility at 1202 Beltway 8 in Pasadena for its new corporate office. The building has a large office area, clean room and manufacturing/warehouse area. Portagas is in the business of packaging calibration gases; its products are internationally marketed to an extensive list of customers including petrochemical plants and environmental companies. Plans are to bring 20 employees to the new location and then hire approximately 10 more in the first year.

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KANEKA

Kaneka Corporation is looking to expand its solar power manufacturing operations as well as ramping up Kaneka Nutrient's Ubiquinol manufacturing. Kaneka Texas has installed a solar power test panel at its Pasadena industrial district site. Once up and generating power, the company would like to test the waters for commercial interest in the U.S. The panels are currently made in Japan. Another aspect of expansion plans involves the manufacturing of Ubiquinol, the active antioxidant form of CoQ10. Kaneka Nutrients is the only U.S.-based CoQ10 manufacturing facility and produces using a proprietary yeast-fermentation process. For over 30 years, Kaneka has produced the highest-quality CoQ10 in the world, and with the introduction of Ubiquinol, it furthers its position as category leader and for future growth.

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SUNOCO

A former plastics manufacturing facility in Pasadena’s industrial district has become available for a new owner. The 150-acre property is located at 9802 Fairmont Parkway; it has 7,000 lineal feet of rail, 45,000 SF of buildings and extensive infrastructure. The site is accessed by Underwood Road and served by the Union Pacific railroad. The Bayport Industrial District is home to over 70 chemical and plastic manufacturing firms from around the globe. The district offers an extensive feedstock pipeline network and tax abatements and incentives for qualified new development and investment.

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NEWS BRIEFS

Wrist USA just expanded by 24,000 SF at East Belt Business Park in Pasadena; the company now occupies 69,000 SF. It is one of the world’s leading ship supply companies offering general ship supply, catering, sea catering, bulk and marine logistics.

Frontier Logistics LP has leased 300,000 SF at Port 225 East business park in Pasadena – 3005 SH 225 -- for a plastic resin packaging and distribution operation.

Supply Chain Management leased 137,000 SF at Port 225 Business Park in Pasadena. The growing business park on SH 225 now has three buildings complete; occupancy is at 93%.

The Houston Chronicle comments on 2010 U.S. Census data showing population growth in southeast Harris County is concentrated heavily in the greater Pasadena area.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2010

NA INDUSTRIES, INC. PICKS PASADENA’S BAYPORT FOR $100 MILLION PLANT CONSTRUCTION SITE

The Office of the Mayor, City of Pasadena, is pleased to announce that NA Industries, Inc. (NAII) has selected Pasadena's Bayport area for the construction of a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) production facility. This plant will employ the latest state of the art technology and will be built next to the American Acryl Plant utilizing acrylic acid feedstock produced by American Acryl, which is an affiliated company of NAII. With this production facility, NAII achieves an integrated production from acrylic acid to SAP.

NAII is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Shokubai Co., LTD. (NSCL), with headquarters in Osaka, Japan. Process technology for this new plant will be based on the latest, world class technology from NSCL. This plant is part of a reinforcement of competitiveness of SAP production that NSCL has undertaken at locations in Asia and Europe, as well as the United States. NSCL is a leading chemical company and Japan's largest producer of acrylic acid and superabsorbent polymers. It has been recognized as having the world's most advanced oxidation and catalyst technology. Its state-of-the-art acrylic acid production technology has been introduced by many major chemical manufacturing companies, and accounts for more than 50 percent of worldwide production capacity.

SAP is an essential part of diapers and is used to enhance the performance of many health and personal care items such as surgical pads, incontinence garments, and wound dressings, in addition to diapers.

The plant will have a production capacity of 60,000 metric tons per year of SAP with an initial investment of $100 million. The plant is scheduled to be in commercial operation by June, 2012, and will employ about 60 full time employees when completed.

We are pleased that an international manufacturer of the stature of NSCL and its subsidiary NAII, with the ability to choose locations world-wide for the construction of this plant, has recognized our city and what we have to offer as the best choice for production.

Mayor Johnny Isbell, Pasadena City Council, and the community warmly welcomes this industry-leading production facility.

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April 29, 2010
Hurricane Workshop & Safety Fair on May 22

The annual Hurricane Workshop that has helped so many residents prepare for storm season over the years now expands to include a Community Safety Fair. From child internet safety to community-wide alerts, learn it all here.

Be ready for any safety challenge.

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April 29, 2010
Golden opportunity

Just in time for summer fun, the Golden Acres Recreation Center will host a Grand Opening next month. Bring the family and see what's planned for kids and adults alike.

Get the details, plan to attend!