Specialty chemicals company LANXESS plans to invest about 200 million euros in the next three years to strengthen its global flame retardant additive asset base. The company has operations in the United States (Charleston, Eldorado, Greensboro), Germany (Leverkusen, Krefeld-Uerdingen), France (Pierre) and the United Kingdom (Manchester) The factory operates a very backward integrated production network of bromine and phosphorus flame retardants.
"With the acquisition of Chemtura in the United States in the spring of 2017, we have become one of the world's leading suppliers of flame retardant additives. With the implementation of investment plans, we will further strengthen our strong position in this growing market," LANXESS Karsten Job, director of the polymer additives business, said.
LANXESS has significantly expanded the market position of flame retardant additives after integrating the former Chemtura business with brominated flame retardant additives, bromine and bromine derivatives. Due to their high efficiency, these substances are especially used in the construction industry and are an ideal complement to the already existing LANXESS business with phosphorus-based flame retardant additives.
Focus on R & D
In addition to the flame retardant production network, LANXESS operates two technology development centers for these products in Nautac, USA, and Leverkusen, Germany. "Beyond Leverkusen and Nogatuk, we are driving global innovations such as reactive and polymer flame retardants," Job said. Active flame retardants and polymer flame retardants, such as LANXESS 'Emerald Innovation 3000, enjoy growing demand because they provide better sustainability performance than standard flame retardants.