Expansions: Arkema’s biobased PA11 powders plant in China; Lanxess’s aminic antioxidants plant in Taiwan

In parallel with its major project to increase global capacity of biobased polyamide (PA) 11 by 50% in Singapore, French materials firm Arkema is now constructing a PA11 powders plant on its Changshu platform in China, scheduled to come on stream in the first quarter of 2023. This investment will further support the growing demand for advanced bio-circular materials in Asia.

Rilsan PA11 powders, currently produced in France entirely from renewable castor beans, are recognised worldwide for their properties and performance in terms of toughness, durability, lightweight and processing versatility, says Arkema. They are used in fast-growing markets driven by megatrends such as durable home appliances, energy-efficient transport, and advanced additive manufacturing (3D printing) primarily for consumer, industrial, and aerospace markets.

Beyond the biobased nature of the powder, this project will also contribute to Arkema’s ambitious sustainability commitments by using highly efficient manufacturing processes and by being physically closer to the new amino 11 plant in Singapore.

Erwoan Pezron, Senior Vice-President, High Performance Polymers, said, “This expansion goes hand in hand with the group’s major polyamide 11 plant currently under construction in Singapore, which is on track to start production mid-2022, and is included in the EUR450 million exceptional capital expenditure envelope dedicated to polyamide expansion in Asia.”

Meanwhile in other news, German speciality chemicals firm Lanxess is expanding its production capacity for light-colour aminic antioxidants at its Taiwan site by several kilo tonnes. It says it is investing several millions to expand its facility in response to growing demand in APAC. The additional volumes are expected to be available by end of 2022.

“We’ve seen rapid market growth in aminic antioxidants in the recent months and years,” says Martin Saewe, Head of Lanxess’s Lubricant Additives Business (LAB). “With our strategically located three assets and our backwards integration into the key raw material, we stand for supply resilience in the industry. We intend to use the additional capacity to strengthen our leading market position in APAC and to support our customers with their growing demand.”

Veronika Sauer, Head of Marketing Lubricant Additives, says “To be ahead of the curve, we continue to develop safer, more sustainable, and higher performing antioxidants that are capable to meet changing market requirements. We are evaluating to offer some of these from our Taiwan site as well”.

Lanxess markets its aminic antioxidants under the brand name Naugalube. The investment at its Taiwan site will support globally harmonised specification of its flagship product Naugalube 438L. Naugalube 438L is a liquid antioxidant used in a broad range of transportation and industrial lubricants. The latter is said to reduce oil oxidation, prolong lubricant life and extend service intervals.

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