Bayer expands coatings raw materials in Shanghai

09 May 2007 12:30  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--Bayer is planning to expand its coatings and adhesives raw materials output in China to meet expected market growth, the German chemicals major said on Wednesday.

 

Bayer said it planned to build a 20,000 tonne/year polyurethane dispersions plant at the group’s Shanghai complex. It was scheduled to come on stream in the second quarter of 2008.

 

Polyurethane dispersions are an ingredient in the production of textile and leather coatings and adhesives and also contribute to the reduction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

 

Production of the aromatic polyisocyanate Desmodur L was due to be expanded to 20,500 tonnes/year during the second half of 2007. The 11,000 tonne/year plant came on stream in July 2006.

 

In addition, the annual capacity for aromatics grades of the Desmodur IL product line was scheduled to be doubled to 5,500 tonnes/year by the end of 2007.

 

Desmodur L and Desmodur IL are key raw materials in wood and furniture coating applications.

 

Bayer added that by the start of 2008 it would expand existing 11,500 tonne/year plant for the production of aliphatic polyisocyanates of the Desmodur N series. It did not disclose the scale of the expansion.

 

Desmodur N is used as a polyurethane raw material for automotive, industrial and plastics coatings.

 

“With a new plant construction and two expansion measures in Shanghai, we want to ensure long-term supply to our customers in this region and to keep pace with future market growth,” said head of coatings, adhesives and sealants at Bayer MaterialScience Joachim Wolff.

 

Bayer said the three investments were part of a larger expansion program at its integrated Shanghai site, investing a total of €1.8bn ($2.4bn) by 2012.

 

($1 = €0.74)

By: Mark Watts
+44 20 8652 3214

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