Lanxess Expands Belgian Plants
- Lanxess completed a €15M refurbishment of Furnace 2 in Kallo.
- A new extension will increase capacity by 10% from 60,000 tonnes per year.
- Lanxess is investing €75M in a new polyamide plant in Lillo, operational by 2014.
- Antwerp's plants produce rubbers, glass fibre, and caprolactam.
Investment in Kallo
Lanxess has completed a €15 million investment program with the refurbishment of Furnace 2 in Kallo. This follows the successful refurbishment of Furnace 1 last year. The upgraded furnaces are crucial for producing glass fibre, which is essential for reinforcing high-performance plastics used in aerospace manufacturing.
Capacity Expansion
The refurbishment will boost the current capacity by 10%, adding to the existing 60,000 tonnes per year. Lighter plastics are increasingly replacing metal parts in cars, leading to lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, as well as cost savings in production and assembly for car manufacturers and their suppliers.
New Polyamide Plant in Lillo
Lanxess is also investing €75 million to build a new polyamide plant in Lillo. The project is on schedule, with the plant expected to be operational by 2014 and an annual capacity of 90,000 tonnes. The plastics produced will be shipped from Antwerp to various Lanxess mixing units worldwide.
Antwerp Production Hub
Lanxess operates three plants in the Antwerp port area, producing rubbers and precursors for plastics. Significant investments have been made in the production of glass fibre and caprolactam, key feedstocks for its plastics. These investments have strengthened Antwerp’s position as a central hub in Lanxess's high-tech plastics business.
