MOSCOW (MRC) -- Covestro AG is adding two world-scale production lines for polycarbonate at its Shanghai site and doubling the capacity to 400,000 metric tons, said Plasticsnews.
The company held an inauguration ceremony on Oct 12, and said the addition now makes it the world’s largest producer of polycarbonate resins.
Covestro’s Head of the Polycarbonates segment Michelle Jou noted during the ceremony that demand is growing from such industries as electronics, healthcare and automotive. "By expanding our polycarbonates production capacity in the region, we can adapt and react even better to the changing needs of our customers. And we optimize our service, guaranteeing sustainable supply and relentless innovation."
With the two new production lines, compounding capacities at the Shanghai site have also nearly doubled, Covestro added, further enhancing its ability to meet the increasing customer requirements for diversified and individual solutions.
The expansion lays the last cornerstone of a multi-year, 3-plus-billion-euro investment program for the Shanghai site. Earlier this year, the company also launched a 50,000-metric-ton-per-annum HDI plant in Shanghai.
Klaus Schafer, Covestro Management Board member responsible for production and technology, noted: "The addition of the new production lines makes Shanghai the largest production center for polycarbonate resins in the world. The successful completion of this project strengthens our global production network and demonstrates Covestro’s continuous commitment to the Chinese market."
Covestro also underscores its leading position in highly efficient and environmentally compatible technology by recycling process water. It is used to produce chlorine and sodium hydroxide – feedstocks for polycarbonates. Contributing to innovative, sustainable technologies, products and application solutions, is among Covestro’s top priorities and aligns with the company’s purpose "to make the world a brighter place."
As MRC informed earlier, Covestro is moving forward with a repurposing of its production operations in Brunsbuttel, Germany. An existing, idled plant for the precursor TDI will be converted for production of MDI. The plans call for roughly doubling production capacity at the site to a total of approximately 400,000 metric tons of MDI per year. Commissioning of the new plant complex is scheduled for late 2018.
With 2015 sales of EUR 12.1 billion, Covestro is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction and the sports and leisure industries. Covestro, formerly Bayer MaterialScience, has 30 production sites around the globe and as of the end of the first quarter 2016 employed approximately 15,700 people (full-time equivalents).
MRC