Dow Chemical To Open Research and Development Facility in Collegeville

The Dow Chemical Company has announced plans to open a 750,000-square-foot research and development facility in Collegeville, located within the Pfizer Pharmaceutical campus on Arcola Road.

"This premier new location provides Dow's world-class researchers with a new collaborative and innovation-centric space, enhanced capabilities and best in-class tools to create differentiation for our customers," said Andrew N. Liveris, Dow's chairman and chief executive officer. "Establishing operations in Collegeville will allow us to remain competitive in a global market and continue as a major employer in Montgomery County and Pennsylvania."

Current employees of the Spring House campus -- which was acquired during the 2009 acquisition of Rohm and Haas -- will be absorbed into the new facility beginning as early as the first quarter of 2013. Additionally, the new Collegeville location has room to accomodate potential job growth in the future.

"This strategy bolsters our company's long-standing commitment to Pennsylvania by putting our [research and development] operations on a long-term path forward," said Jerome Peribere, executive vice president of The Dow Chemical Company and president and chief executive officer, Dow Advanced Materials headquartered in Philadelphia. "We are proud residents of the Delaware Valley region and look forward to continuing the tradition of innovation that our company began here more than 40 years ago."

The plans came after a "compreshensive feasibility study" determined the Collegeville location - and the relocation of Spring House assets -- presented the best option to meet their research objectives.

By choosing Collegeville as their location for the new facility, the company estimates that more than 800 jobs will remain in Montgomery County.