Speciality chemicals company LANXESS is continuing to invest in its global production network for high-performance plastics and is building another compounding facility at its Krefeld-Uerdingen site, Germany, for a mid double-digit million euro amount. Starting in the second half of 2019, LANXESS will produce Durethan and Pocan engineering plastics, which are used primarily in the automotive as well as the electrical and electronics industry. In addition, a warehouse and a silo facility will be built. Construction will begin in the fourth quarter of 2018 and the investment will create around 20 new jobs at the Krefeld-Uerdingen site.
"The high-performance plastics business is a central pillar of our growth strategy. By expanding capacity, we are further strengthening our position as a provider of innovative product solutions for modern mobility. At the same time, we are making even better use of the potential of our integrated value chain for these products," said Hubert Fink, Member of the LANXESS Board of Management. "The investment also shows that we are strongly committed to North Rhine-Westphalia as a business location."
LANXESS already operates a polymerisation and compounding plant for high-performance plastics in Krefeld-Uerdingen. It was only in March 2018 that the company put a new line for the production of specialty compounds into operation there. With the new investment, LANXESS is once again strengthening the importance of the site for the company.
"Krefeld-Uerdingen is our central production platform for high-performance plastics, especially for the European markets. The expansion will enable us to better serve the continuing high demand from this market region in the future," said Michael Zobel, head of LANXESS’ High Performance Materials business unit.
The new plant in Krefeld-Uerdingen will be designed so that LANXESS can expand its operations in the coming years, in line with demand.