Eka Chemicals, Akzo Nobelâs Pulp and Paper Chemicals business unit, will build a new processing plant for production of silicate products in the Howard, Green Bay, Wisconsin, in the U.S. The plant will primarily support the growing demand for Eka Chemicalsâ performance chemicals for the paper industry. Eka Chemicals will invest USD 13 million (EUR 14.6 million) in the production unit, with start up scheduled in mid 2002. Jan Svärd, President of Eka Chemicals: âEka Chemicals continues to develop a broader range of performance chemicals for the paper industry with a special emphasis on a new program, Compozil Select, for the retention field.â? Compozil is a leading paper chemicals system for retention and drainage, based on inorganic nanoparticles and Eka proprietary polymers. In addition to paper chemicals there will also be production lines for colloidal silica products for other applications, for example in the electronic and food industries.