German-based leather chemicals company Lanxess has announced that it has expanded production capacity at its Lanxess Wuxi Chemicals Co. plant in Wuxi, China. The new production buildings were officially opened on February 28. This expansion will allow the company to significantly increase its production capacities for leather chemicals. Production of synthetic tanning materials in the new facilities started in January 2005, and the company states that even the very first batch met the quality requirements of the test laboratory.
The company, originally founded as a joint venture with the Wuxi Dyestuff Factory, has been manufacturing leather chemicals since 1998, primarily for the Chinese market. In addition to synthetic and resin tanning materials, the portfolio includes auxiliaries for the wet end and finishing sectors.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Dr. Bernhard Wehling, senior vice president of Lanxess’ Leather Business Unit, explained: "China is already the most important market for leather chemicals worldwide. The fact that Lanxess is one of the leading suppliers to this market is, therefore, a major achievement and proof of the dedication of our employees. Our aim is to continue to grow faster than the market in China, and that meant it was necessary to expand our production capacities." He added that in addition to the traditional markets -namely the shoe and furniture industries - the use of leather in the automotive sector was a promising growth sector.
The two new production buildings at the site in Wuxi were completed only 15 months after the decision to invest was taken. The first building is used for the synthesis of chemical products based largely on petrochemical raw materials from the region. The second adjacent building houses a high-performance spray dryer which converts the initial tanning material solutions into powder form. As a result, Lanxess now has the capacity to manufacture powdered tanning materials from its Tanigan and Retingan ranges in China.
Around 25 new jobs in production have been created as a result of the expansion.
