Firestone Plant To Change Name

Another longtime Chemical Row industry in Orange will be having a name change. Lion Elastomers has bought the Firestone Polymers plant.

Lion announced the purchase this week. Lion also has a plant in Port Neches.

The local Firestone plant opened in 1960 and has operated under the same name for nearly 60 years. Earlier this year DuPont Sabine River Works, which opened in 1946, became Dow Sabine River Operation.

The local Firestone plant produces styrene-butadiene copolymers under the names Stereon, Diene, and Duradene trade names. The materials are used for synthetic rubber. According to the release, Lion said the products will complement the company’s current portfolio once the deal has closed.

“We have had a strong professional relationship with Bridgestone for decades and we are looking forward to maintaining this relationship while we continue to support the customers of the Orange facility,” said Jesse Zeringue, CEO and president of Lion Elastomers. “This asset purchase will provide our company with the opportunity to further diversify our business and add additional product offerings to current and new customers.”