VINACHEM

Germany-based specialty chemicals manufacturer LANXESS has strengthened its Baypren polychloroprene solid rubber production capabilities in Dormagen with a new production line.

The expansion project, which was carried out with an investment of €18m, will increase the company's annual solid rubber production in Dormagen by around 10% to 63,000t.

LANXESS board of management member Werner Breuers said: "This investment is further proof of our leading know-how in the field of high-performance synthetic rubber.

"By expanding our Baypren plant, we are providing the market with new impetus and demonstrating our strength to our customers."

The facility incorporates dry finishing production technology, which is developed and tested by LANXESS specifically for Baypren production.

The technology is said to help lower production steps and safeguard resources during the manufacturing process.

It dehydrates the rubber in a special extrusion device, thereby lowering water consumption and waste gas emissions.

LANXESS is also adding two new grades of this synthetic rubber to its portfolio under the 'Baypren High Performance' and 'Baypren Green Finishing' brands.

Baypren High Performance benefits from further optimised flow behaviour and Baypren Green Finishing grades have enhanced cross-linking, which boost the injection moulding process for technical mouldings and reduce energy consumption, the company said.

The Baypren facility belongs to LANXESS' high-performance elastomers (HPE) business unit, which is part of LANXESS' performance polymers segment.

Baypren rubber grades are primarily used in the automotive sector for manufacturing windshield wipers, hoses, belts, seals, insulating foams and air springs.