Archimica flood damage reaches millions

After sustaining nearly $4 million in flood damage, the 66-acre Archimica Inc. chemical plant on West Bennett won't be fully operational until Aug. 7, according to Vice President and Site Director Frank Gori.

He said the company is insured for the damage incurred during the torrential rain of July 12.

Jordan Creek runs through the Archimica property and swelled to the top of a floodwall, flooding many of the plant's 31 buildings.

The worst flooding inside the buildings reached 4 1/2 feet and flooding on the property reached 7 1/2 to 8 feet, Gori said.

"The creek widens north of us, and when it rained, it widened even more to the point where it reached a compromised berm that's how the water entered the plant," Gori said.

Plant workers were brought out of the flooded buildings by rescue teams using boats and personal watercrafts so they wouldn't have to walk through several feet of water, Gori said.

Many offices, including Gori's, had to be temporarily relocated while repairs are made to the buildings, which will include replacing sheet rock, carpeting, furniture and office equipment and supplies, such as computers, copiers and fax machines. Gori said two buildings would resume operations by July 28.

Contractor Kit Carson is replacing the sheet rock in Archimica's buildings and is assisting the company with planning for future flooding, Gori said.

"We'll be out for bids on furniture and carpeting. Kit Carson has been very helpful to us as we've been working on this flood plain issue. We've been trying to map out a strategy to prevent this from happening again," Gori said.

He said the company might install a second floodwall or berm to absorb excess runoff. The plant complex has existed since the 1940s, Gori said, and has never sustained flash flood damage before.

"We've had a few inches of water in the plant before, but we've never had a flash flood," he said.

Known in Springfield as Syntex Agribusiness Inc. for years, the 66-acre site was purchased for $10 million by chemical supplier BTP through its fine chemicals division known as Archimica Inc. in June 1999. In January, Switzerland-based specialty chemical manufacturer Clariant announced it would acquire BTP and its Archimica division, and offer BTP shareholders a 79 percent premium, Gori said. Archimica had its headquarters in Manchester, England, before the acquisition, and will begin using the Clariant name Aug. 1.

"Clariant has great expertise in agricultural chemicals. The synergy between the two companies will make us a No. 1 player in the life science intermediates business," Gori said. "The direction for the site will be to continue to work with major pharmaceutical companies. We intend, as well, to have available production for specialty and fine chemicals."

A Jan. 24 Clariant press release stated the combination of Clariant's Life Science Intermediates business with BTP's complementary fine chemicals division will create a leading global supplier of intermediates and active ingredients to pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical companies. Before the acquisition, Clariant employed approximately 30,000 worldwide, while BTP employed 2,800. Gori said the Springfield operation employs approximately 130.