Operational Changes and Investments news (page 64)

The Hengelo site in the Netherlands will increase salt production by 300,000-500,000 tons to meet electrolysis market demand, surpassing Delfzijl as the largest vacuum salt plant globally. Completion by 2004.

The new 16,000 sq ft plant near Barcelona will employ 80 people and triple production capacity in two years. Lipotec exports 80% of its raw materials for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food industries.

Investing EUR 12M, the expansion will double production capacity, making the Cernobbio plant the largest for thermosetting powder coatings, enhancing supply to Eastern Europe and key markets.

The plant, licensed by BASF, produces 22,000 metric tons of Phthalic anhydride and 700 metric tons of Maleic anhydride annually, selling mainly to Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Greece, and Ukraine.