Chemical producer plans $193M Suffolk expansion

Wilmington, Delaware-based Solenis, a producer of specialty chemicals for water-intensive industries, plans to invest $193 million to expand its Suffolk facility, creating 34 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Thursday.

Solenis plans to build an 80,000-square-foot production facility, packaging facility, a tank farm and add a new rail spur to accommodate the production of polyvinylamine polymer products, which are used in paper and cardboard manufacturing. The new facility will help the company grow its existing polymer product line and add capacity to the existing supplier, according to a news release.

Solenis operates nine plants at the Suffolk site, which manufactures products for the wastewater treatment, pulp and paper and other industries, a spokeswoman for the company told Virginia Business. The main facility is 45 acres large and about 100 employees work there. Solenis also has a plant in Courtland that manufactures products primarily for the pulp and paper industry. It has about 70 employees.

Solenis plans to break ground on the new plant in Suffolk in August and anticipates full production in the second half of 2026. The 34 jobs will be a mix of technical and operational roles and hiring will be ongoing throughout the project so that training can be done in advance of the opening.

“This investment is part of our ongoing commitment to provide value for customers while helping them advance their sustainability initiatives,” John Panichella, CEO of Solenis, said in a statement. “As demand rises for sustainable manufacturing operations, this new facility not only ensures we have capacity to supply the paper packaging market, it will also help us diversify into other applications that can drive additional growth.”

Virginia competed with Texas and Georgia for the project.

Owned by Platinum Equity, Solenis has 71 manufacturing facilities around the world and employs more than 15,400 workers across 130 countries. It produces water treatment chemistries, process aids, functional additives, cleaners, disinfectants, and monitoring and control systems.

“Solenis is a global leader in the specialty chemical industry with a 40-year history in the City of Suffolk, and this major investment and expansion demonstrates that manufacturing is thriving in the commonwealth of Virginia,” Youngkin said in a statement. “Hampton Roads has the skilled workforce, business climate and logistics advantages, including our world-class port, to enable Solenis to add significant capacity to supply the international paper manufacturing market.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Suffolk and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation to secure the project for Virginia. Youngkin approved a $275,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist the city with the project. Solenis is also eligible to receive Port of Virginia tax credits and benefits from the Rail Industrial Access program.