LANXESS to start up new formalin facility in Germany by end 2011

19 January 2011 07:50  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--LANXESS is starting up a new facility for formalin production at its site at Krefeld-Uerdingen in Germany by the end of 2011, the specialty chemicals maker said on Wednesday.

Formalin is used in the production of trimethylolpropane (TMP), which is a trivalent alcohol used among applications for products in the furniture, construction and automotive industries.

Building its own formalin plant would reinforce this position and eliminate the need to buy the TMP precursor from external suppliers, LANXESS said in a statement.

The new formalin plant was part of a €40m ($53m) investment plan for two major projects for the company’s basic chemicals business unit, the statement added.

The company, in collaboration with partner Germany-based Symrise, is planning to expand a hydrogenation facility that is used in the production of synthetic menthol, the statement said.

LANXESS supplies synthetic maker Symrise with menthol and the menthol precursor thymol, the statement said.

Synthetic menthol is a key component of numerous scents and flavourings and is also used in pharmaceutical products.

The expansion was due to be completed during the first half of 2012, the statement added.

($1 = €0.75)

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By: Nurluqman Suratman

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