TO meet the demand for its Apec plastic, Bayer MaterialScience (BMS) is investing EUR50 million in a plant for a key precursor for Apec in Germany, to be operated jointly with Japanese/German jv Hi-Bis that will also double capacity. It will come on stream in mid-2014.

Heat resistant Apec is used in automotive lighting, lighting technology, the electrical and electronics industry and in household appliances. Examples include the lenses of automotive headlights, housings for light fittings or hot air nozzles in hair dryers.

Sales of the material are growing significantly faster than the overall plastics market, which is expected to grow at a rate of 5% a year in the medium term. BMS produces Apec at its site in Antwerp, Belgium.

Hi-Bis in Bitterfeld manufactures a key component for it, so-called special bisphenols. The Japanese-German joint venture brought an initial production facility for these materials on stream in 2004.

BMS holds a 10% interest in Hi-Bis with the remaining shares held by the Japanese conglomerate Mitsui & Co (35%) and its Honshu Chemical Industry subsidiary (55%). (PRA)