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r MONSANTO COMPAHY - SPRINGFIELD PLANT Manufacturing operations at the Springfield Plant (.Indian Orchard) were started by the the Fiberloid Corporation in 1904. In 1938, Fiberloid was purchased by Monsanto. The Plant is located along the Chicopee River on a 290-acre site. The present level of employment at the site is 1,176 people. This includes 612 salaried and 564 wage personnel. Of this, manufacturing accounts for 802 Springfield employees. Addi tionally, the plant acts as host for an additional 374 people working in Technology, Management Information & Systems, Mark eting, Central Engineering, Distribution, and Patent Departments. Today's product line at the Springfield Plant consists of the following: SAFLEX Saflex,^ polyvinyl butyral film is used primarily in the manu facture of safety glass laminates for automotive windshields. Use of the Saflex laminates in the architectural glass field is an additional rapidly expanding market. -The Saflex plant f was brought on line in 1972 replacing an obsolete facility. STYRENICS Polystyrene is produced in modern facilities designed for high productivity and reduced energy requirements while meeting en vironmental needs. Lustrex^Rl polystyrene is used extensively in major appliances, radio and television, housewares, toys, packaging and furniture applications. STYRENE ACRYLONITRILE (SAN) Lustran^ SAN manufacture started in 1977 using the formerly idled polyvinyl chloride resins manufacturing facilities. It is used as a feedstock for Lustran(R) ABS Polymer and direct sales to customers. Lustran SAN is widely used in appliances, automotive applications and drain, waste and vent piping. RESINS Resinox(R) Phenolic Resins are shipped throughout the northeast ern region to customers In the insulation, paper coating and plastic laminating businesses. Resimene(R) Melamine Resins are shipped throughout the U.S. for end uses in automotive and house paints, industrial primers, and coil coatings. I RSV0022888 r ( r f tv (, ( -2- Additionally, resins in powder form is sold to the furniture and decorative laminate markets. Formalin (formaldehyde) is a basic raw material^ for the phenolic and amino processes. FORMALDEHYDE Formaldehyde is an important raw material used in the produc tion of melamine and urea, phenolic resins at Springfield. (An aqueous solution of formaldehyde is known as Formalin.) PAST PRODUCT LINE Polyvinyl Chloride Resins, Compound, and Film Sheeting were produced and progressively expanded beginning in 1948. It was sold for use in a broad spectrum of end use applications such as wire insulation, containers, wall coverings, swimming pools and automotive upholstery. Monsanto officially announced its plans, to go out of this business for purely economic reasons in February of 1973 and was completely phased out of the busi ness in 1975. *** * * In January 1982, the plans to consolidate the Springfield Plant with its sister Monsanto manufacturing location in Springfield, Bircham Bend, were announced. The decision to consolidate the plants was made after an extensive feasibility study was completed. The study showed that such a consolidation would have a positive effect upon the viability of the combined plants as a business unit. It would provide substantial cost savings and efficiencies to help overcome the problems resulting from the overall economic conditions and the negative impact of such things as the high energy costs. The overall consolidation of the two plants is an important way of meeting these challenges and will help make both plants more viable as a site for Mon santo's operations. Bircham Bend was built in 1937. From 1938 until 1963, Monsanto jointly owned the facility with Shawinigan Products Corporation of Canada. In 1963, Monsanto acquired full ownership. The plant is located west of the Springfield site and consists of 41 acres along both sides of the Chicopee Riverr Currently there are 317 wage employees and 343 salaried personnel at the plant. Today's product line at Bircham Bend consists of the following: RSV0022889 k. GELVA MULTIPOLYMER RESIN SOLUTIONS Used for manufacture of pressure sensitive coatings and laminating adhesives as well as surface coatings and specialty paper coatings. GELVA POLYVINYL ACETATE EMULSIONS Used for film formers for paints, coatings, binders, adhesives and impregnants. GELVA POLYVINYL ACETATE RESIN SOLUTION Used for bonding paper, wood, glass, leather,.textiles, ceramics, metal foil and many plastic materials. Also used as overprint varnishes, grease proof coatings and pigment binders. GELVATOL POLYVINYL ALCOHOL RESINS Used for textile sizing and finishing, paper coating and sizing, water soluble films for packaging soaps, detergents, chemicals, seed, etc. and as binders for ceramics and china. FORMVAR POLYVINYL FORMAL RESINS "- Used for making enamels for wire coating and for formulating structural adhesives, wash primers, can and drum linings and wood and knot sealers. BUTVAR POLYVINYL BUTYRAL RESINS Used for producing colorless and transparent adhesive films. ACETIC ACID Used as an intermediate in the manufacture of cellulose and vinyl acetate resins and in the textile industry. ETHYL ACETATE Used for production of coating resin-solvents, ^cellophane lacquers and miscellaneous solvent uses in the paint and plastic industries. RSV0022890