National Starch and Chemical Co., Bridgewater, NJ, has announced that it plans to close one starch manufacturing plant in North America and one in Europe, complete a new starch modification in Shanghai, China, and invest in three specialty starch manufacturing plants through 2004 as part of a redesign of its global specialty starch supply chain.

National Starch will enhance specialty starch production by modernizing processes at manufacturing sites in Indianapolis, North Kansas City, MO, and Hamburg, Germany. The company also expects to complete a starch modification factory in 2004 in Shanghai, China, to service the emerging Asian market. These plants will continue to supply National Starch's food and industrial starch customers. The sites proposed for closure by the end of 2004 are the company’s Collingwood, Canada, plant and the Tilbury, UK factory.

"The plant expansions will designed to provide additional manufacturing flexibility while keeping production costs as low as possible." Said James P. Zallie, Senior VP of National’s Natural Polymers Group. He added, "National will enhance its manufacturing effort in this established and newer specialty food starch ingredients to meet growing consumer demand for healthier foods, better nutrition and textural enhancements.