Mobile Plant Named Manufacturer of the Year

The DuPont plant in Mobile, Ala., has been recognized by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce as the Manufacturer of the Year. The award is given to a manufacturing site that has provided positive economic and community benefits to the Mobile area.

“The DuPont Mobile manufacturing site is strategic to the advancement in agriculture and is producing several innovative products that protect crops from pests, diseases and yield-robbing weeds,” said Beth Basham, DuPont Mobile plant manager. “We are in a unique position to help our customers increase global food production through advanced seed genetics, agronomic practices and product innovations that help farmers maximize productivity and quality. I’m personally proud of this recognition because it’s indicative of our site’s employees’ and contractors’ dedication to helping provide the world with much needed food supplies.”

According to Beth, a testament to the success of the Mobile plant is its production of DuPont™ Rynaxypyr®, an advanced insect control product that has been manufactured there since 2008. Since its introduction, products powered by Rynaxypyr® have been rapidly adopted by growers around the world to help protect crops from a broad spectrum of chewing insect pests that prevent plants from producing to their potential.

To meet the growing demand for this innovation, Mobile production has increased more than tenfold, and new jobs have been created. Since 2007, site employment has increased 15%. Approximately 225 DuPont employees and contractors work together at the Mobile site, and the capability, flexibility and team focus have enabled the outstanding production response to this rapid increase in demand.

“DuPont™ Rynaxypyr® is an insect control product that provides growers with long-lasting plant protection and an excellent environmental profile,” Beth said. “The employees at the Mobile site are proud to be a part of this new product introduction and success.”

DuPont has operated a crop protection manufacturing site in Mobile for nearly 25 years. The 500-acre facility was built in 1968 and acquired by DuPont in 1986. The site produces a variety of insect control products, fungicides and specialty chemicals which help growers improve the productivity and quality of crops, including corn, soybeans, fruits and vegetables, wheat, cotton, rice and many more.

The Mobile plant is a certified Responsible Care® site. This program is a global voluntary initiative under which companies, through their national trade associations, work together to continuously improve health, safety and environmental performance; and to communicate with stakeholders about their products and processes.