- EUR 20 million will be invested to increase capacity by 14,000 metric tons per year.
- Current plant capacity is 135,000 metric tons per year.
- Expansion will occur during a scheduled turnaround in Q3 2011.
- Completion is expected in Q2 2012.
Investment and Capacity Increase
LANXESS will invest EUR 20 million to expand the production capacity of its butyl rubber plant in Zwijndrecht, Belgium, by 14,000 metric tons per year. This will increase the plant's current capacity from 135,000 metric tons to approximately 149,000 metric tons annually.
Timeline and Schedule
The expansion will primarily take place during a scheduled turnaround of the plant in the third quarter of 2011. The project is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2012.
Market Demand
The increased capacity aims to meet the growing global demand for regular butyl and halobutyl synthetic rubber. This demand has returned to pre-crisis levels and is expected to continue growing, driven by the global trend towards greater mobility and the rising middle class in emerging markets such as China and India.
Applications
Butyl rubber is essential for the tire industry and has significant applications in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in Asia, due to its distinct properties.
