Lanxess starts leather chemicals production in Changzhou
16/04/2013
With a capacity of up to 50,000 tonnes per year, the plant is the largest of its kind in China and will strengthen Lanxess’s position as “a sustainable leather chemicals provider in the local market”, the company said. It has invested EUR 30 million in the facility, which employs about 150 people.
The plant will produce the full range of Lanxess leather chemicals for the local Chinese market, which the company expects to keep growing, especially in the automotive leather sector.
“This plant will enable us to respond quickly and effectively to the industry’s constant need for the complex, innovative and sophisticated chemicals that are vital for the preparation and finishing of the finest leather products,” said Axel Heitmann, chairman of the Lanxess board of management. “This investment also underlines our successful strategy of focusing on the emerging markets.”
Products it will manufacture at the new facility include Tanigan, Isoderm, Euderm and Levotan, used for tanning, dyeing and finishing applications. It will use up-to-date manufacturing technology. In addition, the plant’s buildings have been constructed to meet the highest environmental standards. A building devoted to research and development, for example, is equipped with solar energy and rainwater recycling to cut total energy consumption. This building has already won a national green building award.
“We will be setting new benchmarks for sustainability, including more efficient production methods, recycling, and reduced emissions,” said Markus Eckert, head of the Lanxess leather business unit. “This new plant stands as an example of the environmentally friendly production movement that is so important in today’s China. It is also an example of the sustainability mission that is now the focus of Lanxess endeavours here in China and throughout the world.”
The leather business unit is part of Lanxess Performance Chemicals segment. It has approximately 1,750 people worldwide and other production sites in Leverkusen, Germany, Filago, Italy , Rustenburg, Newcastle and Merebank, all South Africa, Zárate, Argentina and Wuxi, China.
To support the development of further innovative products and applications at the site, Lanxess has entered into an agreement with Changzhou National Hi-Tech District.
“This shows our confidence in the development in Changzhou,” said Chien Ming Cheng, chief executive of Lanxess in greater China.
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