Expansions: Perstorp increases TMP production capacity; Clariant begins construction of FR facility in China

Perstorp, the world leader in the production of Trimethylolpropane (TMP), has ramped up the capacity in Vercelli, Italy, to meet growing demand from the European market. It did not disclose the capacity expansion.

TMP is used to enhance the properties of numerous materials. Common applications include the use in saturated polyesters for coil coatings, polyurethanes for coatings and elastomers, acrylic acid esters for radiation curing, esters for synthetic lubricants, and for the surface treatment of pigments.

Filip Tauson, Global VP Polyols at Perstorp, commented: “The capacity expansion is fully in line with Perstorp’s ambition to further strengthen our position in the Polyols market. TMP is a key product in our Polyol portfolio, which is a core business within Perstorp. This product line have been instrumental in the development of Perstorp as an international company and we are happy to expand our position further to be able to serve a strong demand from the market.”

Perstorp’s own TMP production sites are located in China, Sweden, and the US.

In other news, Swiss chemical firm Clariant says that it will construct its first Chinese production facility for its successful Exolit OP flame retardants (FRs) at its existing site in Daya Bay, Huizhou, Guangdong Province. By establishing local production capacity, Clariant enhances the speed at which it can provide solutions to its customers in China. It will cater to the fast-growing electrical and electronic equipment industries, in particular e-mobility, 5G communications technology and transportation sectors.

Construction of the new production facility started with the groundbreaking ceremony. The project is expected to be completed and inaugurated in 2023. Upon completion, Clariant intends to source the necessary raw materials to enable local production in China.

“China has been one of the fastest growing regions for Clariant and we expect this development to continue in the future. By investing approximately CHF60 million to establish a production facility dedicated to providing our local customers with innovative and sustainable Exolit OP flame retardants, we will take another step towards increasing our footprint in China and continue to solidify our position in the local market,” said Conrad Keijzer, CEO of Clariant.

Clariant’s facility in Daya Bay is currently home to the company’s first ethoxylation plant in Asia, which services local pharmaceutical, personal care, home care, and industrial application customers within its Business Area Care Chemicals.

This investment is in line with Clariant’s dedicated growth strategy for China, in which footprint enlargement plays a vital role, alongside customer experience and innovation to support the country’s drive towards sustainability transformation. This is underpinned by other investments, such as the recently completed One Clariant Campus in Shanghai, the newly opened joint production facility with Tiangang in Cangzhou and the new Catofin Catalysts facility in Jiaxing, which is expected to come online in 2022. By allocating approximately 35% of growth capital expenditure (capex) to China going forward, the sales share for the Group is expected to grow to around 14% by 2025 versus the 10% contribution from China in the full year 2020.

“We are very proud and excited to establish production capabilities in China. By producing closer to our Chinese customers, we can improve cooperation and design tailored solutions to their developing needs as well as significantly reduce delivery lead times. This new facility will also strengthen our overall production network beyond our existing facilities in Knapsack, Germany, and thus is beneficial to our global customer base as well,” said Francois Bleger, Global Head of Clariant’s Business Unit Additives.

Clariant’s Exolit OP range of FRs is based on aluminium diethyl-phosphinate (DEPAL), which has a ecotoxicological profile, as opposed to halogenated FRs and also carries Clariant’s sustainability label EcoTain in recognition of its proven environmental and health profile. The Exolit FRs offer protection possibilities, providing fire resistance to electronic devices like smartphones and computers as well as slowing fire and smoke spread in infrastructure applications. As e-mobility expands, they are set to play a critical role in enabling protection for everything from battery packs and other e-vehicle parts to charging points. With the new 5G technology expanding, innovative flame retardants are needed for the protection of a new generation of user devices with a denser and more technically sophisticated infrastructure.

Starting in the 1990s, Clariant invented and continuously developed its FR technology based on organic phosphinates. Clariant has been protecting this innovative technology with a patent portfolio, which comprises more than 500 active individual patents or global patent applications. They cover phosphinate-based FRs as well as related polymer compositions and are relevant for components and end products such as plug connectors, circuit boards, encapsulating compounds, power plugs, LED housings, capacitor housings, charging cables for cell phones, and engine covers.

Clariant adds it has never licensed its patent-protected technology to other manufacturers for the production of FR materials, neither in China nor in other countries.

(PRA)

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