Synthetic elastomers company Arlanxeo is strengthening its market position by investing in its high-performance elastomer products CR (chloroprene rubber) and NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber), laying the foundation for the further increase of production capacity in order to meet the increasing global demand of these polymers.
The turnaround of Arlanxeo´s CR plant in Dormagen, Germany, announced in the beginning of 2018, has been successfully completed allowing for a production of up to 70,000 tonnes/year of CR. The multiple million Euro investment to upgrade and modernise the plant is a strong signal of Arlanxeo’s long-term commitment to the CR business, leading to an increased flexibility and capability of the plant to produce specialty products. In addition to its investment in Dormagen,
Arlanxeo has also already made substantial progress modernizing its NBR plant in La Wantzenau, France. The double-digit million Euro investment program started in mid-2018 and aims to bring the plant up to the latest technology standards. Through this investment, Arlanxeo will serve the increasing demand of its high-quality NBR rubbers in the coming years while underlining the company´s long term commitment to NBR and strengthening its position as the leading global NBR supplier. This applies to the traditional business areas and new applications as well as for the use of NBR as raw material for the production of the company’s Therban (HNBR) specialty products.
Arlanxeo´s La Wantzenau facility is the world’s largest NBR production site and also the company´s center for research and development activities for NBR.
The company produces a broad high quality NBR grade portfolio in La Wantzenau which is supplied to more than 500 customers in over 60 countries worldwide.
Christian Widdershoven, member of Arlanxeo’s Executive Leadership Team: “These investments are strong examples of how Arlanxeo keeps upgrading its plants to enable us to provide the highest quality products to meet increasing customer demands. Moreover they demonstrate Arlanxeo’s commitment to the growing CR and NBR business and are setting the basis for its future growth.”
Its CR grades are marketed under the Baypren brand. They are used for example in the production of cable sheathing, belts, conveyor belts and wetsuits as well as in adhesive applications and feature high weather, UV and oil resistance.
NBR is sold under the Perbunan, Krynac, and Baymod N brands. It is used in the production of cables, seals, hoses, printing blankets, and soles for safety and athletic shoes, among other uses. The most important markets are the automotive and construction sector as well as the oil and gas production and processing industry.