German speciality chemicals firm Lanxess, which is the world’s largest producer of EPDM, is progressing according to plan with the construction of its world-scale EPDM plant in Changzhou (Jiangsu Province), China. It is investing EUR 235 million in the plant - the largest investment the company has made in China to date. Some 45% of the investment total will be spent by the end of 2013.

The plant will have a capacity of 160,000 tonnes/year and the investment will create up to 200 new jobs. The plant is expected to achieve mechanical completion at the end of 2014 and will probably start selling products to customers as of 2015.

Lanxess markets its products under the brand name Keltan. China is the world’s largest market for EPDM, driven above all by automotive and construction industries. The new EPDM plant is located at the well-established Changzhou Yangtze Riverside Industrial Park, with access to excellent storage and ship uploading facilities. Up to 2,000 people are currently working on the site.

Lanxess will use Keltan ACE technology to enable sustainable production at its new plant. In comparison to conventional technology, the Keltan ACE catalyst technology reduces energy requirements for production and it does not require catalyst extraction as a result of high catalyst efficiency. Furthermore, the process enables the manufacture of new EPDM rubber grades, such as oil-extended EPDM and special high molecular weight EPDM. The new plant will produce in total ten premium grades of EPDM tailored to Chinese customer needs.

Lanxess already operates EPDM production sites in Geleen, the Netherlands, Marl, Germany, Orange, USA and Triunfo, Brazil.

EPDM is used above all in the automotive industry as door sealants, hoses, belts or anti-vibration parts. The product is also used in the plastics modification, cable and wire, construction and oil additives industries. Its properties include low density, good resistance to heat, oxidation, chemicals and weathering as well as good electrical insulation properties.