Hexion completes capacity expansion for its fire protection product

Innovative fire hardening material helps ensure grid stability in the face of wildfires

Hexion has completed the expansion of its Missoula, Montana site in support of its ArmorBuilt Wildfire Shield product.

Hexion’s ArmorBuilt Fire Protection product offers a durable, fire mitigation safeguard for securing critical infrastructure or other building materials. ArmorBuilt Wildfire Shield is a smart material triggered by heat to form an insulation layer and protect the underlying pole and related infrastructure.

“ArmorBuilt Wrap improves electrical grid resiliency and helps prevent loss of life by keeping protected poles upright,” said Sanjeev Rastogi, Senior Vice President, Global Resins.

“By safeguarding key infrastructure, Hexion’s ArmorBuilt Wildfire Shield delivers precious life-saving time by keeping critical passages open to first responders and evacuees that may otherwise become blocked by downed poles. We believe that this product can truly help save lives."

“For more than a century, Hexion has delivered sustainable product innovations and technologies that enhance everyday life. Merging fire science and smart materials, Hexion’s ArmorBuilt Wildfire Shield instantly swells and seals around the pole to create a protective and effective heat insulation barrier. Finally, we continue to develop additional applications for a variety of industries as ArmorBuilt Shield can play a critical role in fire hardening protection for other critical infrastructure, residential and commercial applications.”

Hexion also recently participated in three prescribed wildfire canyon burns in partnership with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Stella-Jones Corporation, the National Science Foundation, and San José State University (SJSU).

The Missoula site expansion enables Hexion to significantly increase its capacity to serve customers more easily in the Western United States, Canada and beyond, which are areas prone to wildfires. The Missoula expansion marks the third strategic investment by the Company over the last two years for its ArmorBuilt Shield following two capacity expansions at its Portland, Oregon manufacturing site in 2021. The Missoula site has achieved ISO9001 certification (Quality Management System).