Germany-based Bayer MaterialScience is planning to increase its production capacity for thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) elastomers in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, to meet continued growth in demand. With the addition of a second TPU production line, the capacity of the Cuddalore site will increase to 6,000 tonnes from the current 2,500 tonnes. Installation is scheduled by 2015.

Marius Wirtz, Head of TPU Business at Bayer MaterialScience said, "As the only local TPU producer, Bayer MaterialScience has been committed to the development of the Indian TPU market for over 18 years. The planned increase of our local capacity is an important milestone to continuously support our customer's growth with custom-made TPUs in high quality and with short lead times."

Ajay Durrani, Managing Director and Senior Country Representative - Indian SubContinent, added, "Bayer MaterialScience continues to see strong growth opportunities in India across all business units. There is considerable demand in the Indian market for TPUs which is driven by an increasing appetite for high-quality end products. With this, we are convinced that the Indian market has strong fundamentals to utilise the scale of investments in TPU."

Bayer pioneered the development of TPU applications in India in a wide range of industry segments and applications such as automotive, textile, shoe, castor wheel, cable sheathing, pneumatic tubing, solution coatings and adhesives. The company is the local market leader and offers a wide range of innovative TPUs from both Bayer's local and global TPU portfolio.

The Cuddalore site supplies Bayer's Desmopan TPU to the Indian market as well as to customers in Europe.