German specialty chemicals company Lanxess and Chongqing Changshou Chemical established a joint venture, which will act as the exclusive agent of polychloroprene rubber and adhesive products of both companies.
At present, the joint venture will concentrate on marketing and sales of polychloroprene rubber and (solid) adhesive grades of both companies. The transaction is still pending approval from relevant authorities and is expected to be completed in first half of 2016.
Lanxess produces polychloroprene rubber at its Dormagen site in Germany. It is marketed under the name Baypren. Due to its overall properties among all the synthetic rubbers and key technical properties, Baypren finds a wide diversity of applications including diving suits, cable sheathing, and high speed train and vibration isolation rubber products.
Baypren high-performance rubber grades are highly versatile and combine good resistance to weathering, oil and heat with impressive impermeability to gases. Applications include the automotive sector, where they are used to make windshield wipers, hoses, belts, seals, insulating foams and air springs.
“China is the world’s largest chloroprene rubber market. With the advancement of urbanization, the growth of the automotive industry and the continuous expansion of China’s railway transportation network, local demands for polychloroprene are expected to keep growing in the long run,” said Ming Cheng Chien, CEO of Lanxess Greater China. “The alliance will add to our advantages and facilitate our growth in the local market.”