News release
LANXESS to expand caprolactam production in
Antwerp
Investment of EUR 35 million leads to significant capacity increase
from 2010 onwards
Leverkusen – The specialty chemicals group LANXESS AG is to
expand its site in Antwerp with capital expenditures amounting to some
EUR 35 million. The plan is to raise the capacity of the caprolactam
production plant in the port of Antwerp by 10 percent by 2010,
principally in order to further strengthen the company's polyamide
plastics business. At present, the plant supplies around 200,000 t/y of
this important raw material, which is needed mainly for the manufacture
of PA 6. Around half the monomer produced in Antwerp under the
LANXESS flag is currently used for the production of polyamides from
the Durethan family. These products have proved successful over many
years in the production of heavy-duty plastic components for the
automotive industry, for example.
"This investment will consolidate our excellent position in the global
plastics business. It is another step on the way to profitable growth. At
the same time, it is a clear declaration of faith in our Antwerp site. In
conjunction with the ongoing measures to improve efficiency, the
investment will further improve the competitiveness of this site," says
Rainier van Roessel, a member of the LANXESS Board of
Management. "In addition, it will safeguard the backward integration of
our global plastics business, where rising feedstock prices are playing a
major role".
Apart from caprolactam, LANXESS also produces glass fibers in the
port of Antwerp, where it operates a world-scale plant. These glass
fibers are another of the raw materials used in the manufacture of highperformance plastics. Backward integration with these strategically
important materials will give LANXESS reliable, inexpensive access to
the core raw materials it needs.
LANXESS AG
Contact: Michael Fahrig
Corporate Communications
Market Communications
Trade & Technical Press
51369 Leverkusen
Germany
Phone +49 214 30-45041
Fax +49 214 30-44865
michael.fahrig@lanxess.com
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The caprolactam facility in Antwerp is part of a large complex consisting
of five plants devoted to the production of this vital raw material. It is
positioned at the end of a chain which yields cyclohexanone and oleum
– highly concentrated sulfuric acid – and their pre-products for
caprolactam production under LANXESS's management. This latest
project will also include measures to increase the capacity of some of
these plants by 2010. The capacity for KA-oil (a mixture of
cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol, which is formed through the oxidation
of cyclohexane and is later processed into caprolactam) will be raised
by 25 percent to 150,000 t/y by 2010.
LANXESS is a leading manufacturer of engineering plastics. Under the
brand names Durethan and Pocan, it markets a range of polyamide 6
and 66 and thermoplastic polyesters that are renowned for their
outstanding properties such as toughness, heat resistance and ease of
processing. Durethan and Pocan are suitable for heavy-duty technical
components that have to comply with the highest specifications in terms
of functionality, load resistance and long-term stability. These highperformance plastics are frequently used in the automotive and
electrical/electronics industries, and in domestic appliances – all
segments that are widely regarded as innovation drivers.
LANXESS is a leader in specialty chemicals with sales in 2007 of EUR 6.61 billion and
currently around 15,100 employees in 21 countries. The company has operations at 44 sites
worldwide. LANXESS’s core business comprises the development, manufacture and sale of
plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals.
Leverkusen,
fah
September 17, 2008
(2008-0159E)
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and
forecasts made by LANXESS AG management. Various known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future
results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates
given here. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking
statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
Information for editors:
All LANXESS news releases and accompanying photo, video and audio material can be
found on http://press.lanxess.com.
LANXESS AG
Contact: Michael Fahrig
Corporate Communications
Market Communications
Trade & Technical Press
51369 Leverkusen
Germany
Phone +49 214 30-45041
Fax +49 214 30-44865
michael.fahrig@lanxess.com
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