Pinova: Georgia's Pine-Derived Powerhouse

Pinova is a global leader in specialty chemicals, manufacturing products from natural and renewable feedstocks. Headquartered in Brunswick, Georgia, the company has been in operation since 1911. Pinova provides rosin and polyterpene resin innovations for a variety of industries, including adhesives, construction, food and beverage, and agriculture. Their products include Pinova® Ester Gum 8BG, Vinsol® resins, Piccolyte® polyterpene resins, and more. The company has a strong commitment to safety and environmental protection and is well-regarded as an employer, ranked #9 on the Best Companies to Work For in Brunswick, GA list.

Pinova's Brunswick plant closure

Pinova, a subsidiary of DRT, is a global leader in specialty chemicals manufactured from natural and renewable feedstocks. The company has been around for over a century, founded in 1911, and is headquartered in Brunswick, Georgia.

On April 15, 2023, a massive fire broke out at the Pinova plant in Brunswick, resulting in voluntary evacuation orders for residents within a 1/2-mile radius and a shelter-in-place order for the entire town. The fire was contained and extinguished with the help of multiple fire and emergency management agencies, but it caused significant damage to the plant.

Following the fire, Brunswick officials met with Pinova plant representatives to discuss the future of the plant and address concerns about environmental and safety regulations. The company announced on June 28, 2023, that the Brunswick plant would not be reopening due to the extensive damage caused by the fire, resulting in the layoff of more than 200 employees.

The decision to close the plant was difficult, given the long history of the site and the talented employees. Pinova committed to treating employees fairly and providing support during the transition. The company offered severance, career counselling, and assistance in finding future employment.

The decommissioning process is being carried out with strict safety protocols and a commitment to minimising environmental impact. The goal is to repurpose the property to benefit the community. The process is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

Pinova's products and customers

Pinova Holdings, Inc. is a global leader in specialty chemicals manufactured from natural and renewable feedstocks. It has been in operation since 1911 and is headquartered in Brunswick, Georgia. The company has two operating arms, Pinova, Inc. and Renessenz LLC, and it provides high-quality products to market-leading customers around the world. Pinova has around 200 employees and an annual revenue of $91.0M.

Pinova's Brunswick plant was closed in 2023 following a fire that destroyed core production assets and infrastructure. The fire caused voluntary evacuations and a shelter-in-place order for the town of Brunswick. The plant manufactured rosin and polyterpene resins, which are used in a wide range of industries, including food production and adhesive products.

Pinova's standard-setting products include:

• Ester Gum 8BG
• Vinsol resins
• Piccolyte polyterpene resins
• Foral synthetic resins
• Staybelite hydrogenated rosins
• Hercolyn D methyl ester of hydrogenated rosin
• Pentalyn synthetic resins
• Pexalyn rosin derivatives

Pinova's resins are used by customers in over 100 countries and across a wide variety of specialized markets, including adhesives, construction, food and beverage, and agriculture.

Pinova's history and ownership

Pinova Holdings, Inc. is a global leader in specialty chemicals, manufacturing products from natural and renewable feedstocks. The company operates through two subsidiaries: Pinova, Inc. and Renessenz LLC, providing high-quality products to market-leading customers worldwide.

Pinova was founded in 1911 and is headquartered in Brunswick, Georgia, with three manufacturing facilities in the southeastern United States. The company has a long history, previously known as Hercules Specialty Resins, and is recognised as an industry leader in rosin and polyterpene resin innovations. Pinova's products are used in a wide range of industries, including adhesives, construction, food and beverage, and agriculture. The company serves customers in over 100 countries, ensuring consistent product performance.

In 2010, Pinova purchased the property that encapsulated the manufacturing areas of the Brunswick plant, which had been in operation since 1911. The site has been a significant economic force in Brunswick and Glynn County, employing generations of people. At its peak in the 1950s, the plant had around 900 workers under the ownership of Hercules.

Pinova's Brunswick plant faced several challenges, including safety and environmental concerns. In 2023, a massive fire broke out, leading to voluntary evacuations and shelter-in-place orders for residents nearby. The fire caused significant damage, and the company decided not to reopen the plant, resulting in layoffs for over 200 employees. The decommissioning process is being carried out with a focus on safety and environmental impact minimisation, with the goal of repurposing the property to benefit the community.

In terms of ownership, Pinova Holdings, Inc. is a subsidiary of DRT, a France-based company. The latest update indicates that Pinova has new ownership under Firmenich, Inc.

Pinova's employee relations

Pinova, a subsidiary of DRT, is a global leader in specialty chemicals manufactured from natural and renewable feedstocks. The company has been in operation since 1911 and is based in Brunswick, Georgia, with a workforce of 200 employees. Pinova's commitment to its employees is evident in its ranking as the 9th best company to work for in Brunswick, GA, by Zippia. The company also demonstrates a willingness to invest in its employees' future, as seen by its preference for hiring graduates from Georgia Southern University, with 15.4% of its employees holding degrees from this institution.

The company also values its employees' diversity and inclusion. This is reflected in its ranking as the 10th biggest company in Brunswick, which indicates a relatively large and diverse workforce. Pinova's commitment to diversity and inclusion is further emphasised in its willingness to provide career counselling and support for transitioning to future employment, as mentioned in its statement regarding the closure of its Brunswick plant following the April 2023 fire.

Overall, Pinova's employee relations are characterised by a commitment to safety, employee development, diversity, and community involvement. The company's actions reflect a willingness to invest in its employees' well-being and provide support during challenging times, such as plant closures or accidents.

Pinova's violations and fines

Pinova, a chemical manufacturing company based in Brunswick, Georgia, has been the subject of several regulatory violations and fines in recent years. The company, a subsidiary of DRT, is a global leader in the production of specialty chemicals derived from natural and renewable feedstocks. While it has been recognised as a great place to work, offering state-of-the-art products, it has also faced scrutiny for non-compliance with environmental and safety standards.

Air Quality Act Violations

Pinova has been cited for multiple violations of the Clean Air Act, resulting in significant fines. In April 2022, the Georgia Environmental Protection Agency (GEPA) penalised the company $185,000 for record-keeping and maintenance failures. These failures included not submitting reports, failing to update records, neglecting to repair leaking valves and pumps, and not calibrating instruments. This was the largest fine imposed on Pinova for air violations in Glynn County in the last five years.

In addition to the 2022 fine, Pinova was also cited for air quality act violations by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) in October 2016 and December 2017. The 2016 violation resulted in a $9,000 fine, while the 2017 violation carried a $30,000 penalty. These violations occurred under the previous ownership of DRT America, which took over in December 2016.

Occupational Health and Safety Violations

The company has also faced scrutiny for occupational health and safety violations. In December 2021, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) found four serious violations, including the failure to perform internal and external inspections of the rosin tank. OSHA claimed that employees were exposed to tank rupture hazards and chemical hazards due to over-pressurisation. These violations resulted in a total penalty of $44,861.

Other Violations and Fines

Pinova has also been penalised for additional safety and environmental infractions. In January 2019, an employee was injured when a tote slipped off a forklift, leading to a $4,347 penalty from OSHA. Furthermore, there were four other air quality act violations from the GEPA between 2012 and 2017, resulting in a total of $49,000 in penalties. In August 2010, OSHA penalised Pinova $30,000 for safety-related offences.

Fire Incident and Decommissioning

On April 21, 2023, a lightning strike ignited a small debris pile within the Pinova plant, leading to a fire that was quickly extinguished by the Brunswick Fire Department. This incident resulted in the closure of the Brunswick plant, impacting approximately 213 employees. The decommissioning process is currently underway, with a focus on safety and environmental concerns, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

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