Bayer MaterialScience builds multipurpose
plant for coating raw materials
Bayer MaterialScience has begun construction of a multipurpose production plant for
polyurethane coating raw materials at
Chempark Leverkusen. The products hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and
isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) are used
primarily for high-quality and environmentally friendly automotive and industrial
coatings. The company is investing roughly
€ 35 million in the expansion of its production capacities. The plant is scheduled to
come on stream in fall 2013.
“In keeping with our mission state-
ment, Science For A Better Life, our com-
pany develops innovative and sustainable
solutions as answers to global mega-
trends,” said Bayer CEO Dr. Marijn
Dekkers. “One example is increasing mo-
bility around the world, resulting in rising
demand for high-performance automotive
coatings. With this investment, Bayer un-
derscores its commitment to the Lev-
erkusen site and to our region.”
The CEO stressed that the new plant is
just one element of the company’s invest-
ment planning. “At Bayer MaterialScience
alone, we intend to invest at least €700 mil-
lion in capital expenditures in Germany
over the next three years,” said Dekkers.
“We must adjust our capacities accord-
ingly if we are to meet the rising demand
for coating and adhesive raw materials,”
said Daniel Meyer, head of the coatings, ad-
hesives, specialties business unit and mem-
ber of the executive committee of Bayer
MaterialScience. “We are therefore making
targeted investments in the individual re-
gions in order to maintain or further ex-
pand our leading market position.”
The new multipurpose plant will be in-
tegrated into existing HDI and IPDI pro-
duction at the Leverkusen site and uses
modern and innovative process technolo-
gies for the efficient production of both
raw materials.
One important area of application for
both raw materials is high-quality
polyurethane coatings for automotive finishing. Given increasing individual trans-
portation worldwide, there is a demand for
high-performance and durable coatings that
are also environmentally friendly. Bayer
MaterialScience has developed innovative
products for this application based on HDI
and IPDI, which also enable the formulation of low-solvent coatings. The two raw
materials are also used in industrial coatings, textile coatings and adhesives.
Bayer CEO Dr. Marijn Dekkers (middle), Patrick
Thomas, CEO of Bayer MaterialScience (2nd
from left), Dr. Tony Van Osselaer, head of industrial operations at Bayer MaterialScience
(left), Daniel Meyer, head of the coatings, adhesives, specialties business unit at Bayer MaterialScience (right), and Thomas de Win,
chairman of the Bayer Central Works Council,
during the start of construction ceremony for
the new multipurpose production plant.
In other news, Bayer MaterialScience
has commissioned a new technical center
for the development of isocyanate production processes at Chempark Dorma-gen. Germany. The research center was
erected in just under a year with an investment of € 5 million.
“All global research activities related to
the production of aromatic isocyanates
have now been pooled in the new hydrogenation technical center,” said Dr.
Joachim Wolff, head of the polyurethanes
business and member of the executive
committee of Bayer MaterialScience, on
the occasion of the commissioning. “The
associated efficiency gains in the research
and optimization of the production
processes will help to further expand our
global technological leadership.”
AkzoNobel completes
acquisition of Boxing
Oleochemicals
AkzoNobel has completed its acquisition
of China’s leading specialty surfactant
producer, Boxing Oleochemicals. Boxing
is a supplier of nitrile amines and derivatives, which are used in a variety of industrial and consumer applications. The
acquisition will further strengthen AkzoNobel’s leadership position in specialty
surfactants while enhancing its manufacturing footprint in Asia. This transaction
was first announced on July 27, 2011.
Based in the province of Shandong, Boxing had revenues of approximately €100
million in 2010. Its activities will be integrated into AkzoNobel’s Surface Chemistry
business unit, a global leader in specialty
surfactants, synthetic polymers and biopolymers used as formulation ingredients
and process aids in many applications ranging from home and personal care to agro-chemicals, oilfield and asphalt road paving.
“The acquisition of Boxing quickly po-
sitions us to respond to the increasing de-
mand for amines and derivatives, with a
third of the Asian demand coming from
China alone,” said Bob Margevich, man-
aging director of AkzoNobel Surface
Chemistry. “It also reaffirms our commit-
ment to locate production closer to our
customers. Boxing is a perfect fit for our
technology and its site provides us with a
sound manufacturing platform.”
Over the next three years, AkzoNobel
plans to enhance the process capabilities
and increase capacity at the Boxing site by
introducing state of the art manufacturing
technology and implementing AkzoNobel
health, safety and environmental standards.
“Furthermore, the integration of Boxing’s activities and further synergies with
AkzoNobel will definitely boost the introduction of new products to local mid-tier
