Bayer expands production for coating raw materials in China

Ground has been broken at the site in Shanghai, China, for a new plant for the production of the precursor hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). With an annual capacity of 50'000 metric tons, it will be the one of the largest facilities of its kind in the world. Completion is scheduled for 2016. Bayer already has one HDI plant in Shanghai, which was expanded in 2013 from its original annual capacity of 30'000 metric tons. There is considerable demand in the region and China, in particular, for coatings and adhesives, which are used in the automotive industry, the construction sector and the textile and shoe industries, among others. This growth is being driven to a large extent by the growing middle class, which has an increasing appetite for high-quality end products. Positive market development “The construction of our new HDI plant documents our confidence in the Asia/Pacific market and China, in particular,” said Daniel Meyer, who heads the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties (CAS) Business Unit at Bayer MaterialScience. “We are determined to continue to grow here in harmony with the rising demand in the region for innovative solutions for polyurethane-based coatings and adhesives.” Thanks to raw materials such as HDI, many everyday products last longer, have better properties and a more attractive appearance. Leveraging synergies “The HDI plant represents a major advancement in polyurethane production,” said Dr. Tony Van Osselaer, Head of Industrial Operations at Bayer MaterialScience. “Shanghai is one of our largest production sites, and we are represented there by all of our business units. Building the plant at this site allows us to make full use of the synergies offered by our global production network.” Van Osselaer said that this would enable Bayer to introduce a new manufacturing process that has a low environmental impact while at the same time satisfies stringent safety requirements.