AkzoNobel's Speciality Chemicals business recently broke ground on a new alkoxylation facility in Ningbo, China, bringing the company's total investment in the strategic multi-site to more than EUR400 million.
The Ningbo multi-site covers around 50 ha and accommodates production for chelates, ethylene amines, ethylene oxide, organic peroxides and Bermocoll cellulose derivatives. Surface Chemistry's latest investment will increase annual capacity by nearly 18,000 tonnes, mainly catering for domestic demand in China.
As well as contributing to what it says is its position as one of the leading surfactant producers in China, the new facility also creates a more sustainable footprint in the region. The added alkoxylation capacity (the process of reacting a fatty amine with ethylene oxide to make ethoxylated amines) will enable the company to better serve its customers in the agrochemical, oilfield and personal care markets.
AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry is a global leader in the manufacturing and supply of speciality surfactants, synthetic and bio-polymer additives and speciality polymers. AkzoNobel currently employs more than 7,400 people in China. Revenues in China totalled EUR1.7 billion in 2014.
(PRA)
