Dutch AkzoNobel invests €140m to upgrade Frankfurt chlorine plant

12:00 AM @ Monday - 01 January, 1900
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--AkzoNobel will invest €140m ($200m) in new membrane electrolysis technology to upgrade its 165,000 tonne/year chlorine plant in Frankfurt, Germany, the Dutch paints and coatings company said on Monday.

The plant’s capacity is expected to be raised to 250,000 tonnes/year and the upgraded plant will come on stream in the fourth quarter of 2013, the company said in a statement.

The upgrading work has already begun, according to a company official.

“This significant investment in our Frankfurt site – one of the strongest European chemical clusters – will enable us to meet robust customer demand, while improving our eco-footprint,” said Rob Frohn, the company's executive committee member responsible for specialty chemicals.

The company operates three chlorine plants in Germany and two in the Netherlands through its subsidiary AkzoNobel Industrial Chemicals, the company said.

These facilities “exceeded 1m tonnes in total production” last year, it added.

Chlorine is used in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), epoxy resins and polyurethane (PU). It is also commonly used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, according to Akzo Nobel.