Lanxess expanding plastics production in U.S.

Specialty chemical maker Lanxess AG is making a US$15 million expansion at its high-tech plastics compounding facility in Gastonia, N.C.

The expansion will double the existing capacity from 20,000 to 40,000 metric tons annually, Germany-based Lanxess said in a statement. Construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2014 with production scheduled to begin in early 2016.

The Gastonia facility produces the high-tech plastics Durethan (polyamide) and Pocan (polybutylene terephthalate) for auto parts applications.

The announcement is the latest in a busy year for Lanxess. In July, a high-tech polymerization plant in Antwerp, Belgium started up; and the company also recently opened a 20,000 metric ton per year high-tech plastics plant in Porto Feliz, Brazil. Other compounding plants are in operation in Dormagen, Germany; Wuxi, China; and Jhagadia, India.

Lanxess reported sales of 8.3 billion euros in 2013, and employs about 16,900 workers in 31 countries. The company is currently represented at 52 production sites worldwide.