AkzoNobel, the world’s largest producer of organic peroxides for the cross linking of elastomers, silicone rubbers and thermoplastics, expands its polymer chemistry business in China with the inauguration of new specialty chemicals facilities at its multi-site in Ningbo, China and the construction of a new specialty chemicals plant in Tianjin.
The two new facilities in Ningbo, which represent a combined investment of EUR80 million, are for the polymer chemistry and surface chemistry businesses of the company.
Meanwhile, an additional EUR90 million is being invested in the construction of the state-of-the-art site in Tianjin, which will be located at the Nangang Chemical Park, for the polymer chemistry business and will replace its existing plant in the area.
“There is increasing demand for innovative and more sustainable chemical products and these new facilities will enable us to continue meeting our customers’ growing needs,” said Werner Fuhrmann, AkzoNobel’s Executive Committee member responsible for Specialty Chemicals.
The new facilities at the Ningbo site include the company’s largest unit for making organic peroxides that are used in the production of cross linked rubber– which will emphasize AkzoNobel’s position as the world’s largest organic peroxides producer– as well as an alkoxylation facility, which will provide surfactants for the agrochemical, cleaning, viscose and animal feed industries.
“Investing in state-of-art specialty chemicals facilities, with a focus on sustainability, is only natural as we continue our growth journey in China,” explained Dr. LIN Liangqi, President of AkzoNobel China.
The planned organic peroxides facility in Tianjin will utilise state-of-the-art technology that meets stringent safety and environmental standards introduced by the Chinese government.
Offering more capacity than the existing site, it is being constructed to support efforts by the local authorities to improve safety in the chemical industry, while providing improved manufacturing and quality processes to customers.
Construction of the new Tianjin site will start towards the end of 2016, and it is expected to be operational in late 2018.