Akzo Nobel to shutter IL-based surfactant plant.

Akzo Nobel, Arnhem, The Netherlands, has announced plans to close its surfactant plant in McCook, IL, citing the desire to "better utilize current production capacity." The surfactant products that were produced there are being transferred to the company's other U.S. chemicals facilities. Akzo Nobel expects to complete the production transition and closure by the end of 2007. The McCook site has about 100 employees, and the company is working to transfer them to other Akzo Nobel sites in the U.S.