Lanxess significantly expands benzyl alcohol capacity

Germany-based specialty chemicals company Lanxess AG is expanding its production capacity for the industrial chemical benzyl alcohol for the global market by around 30 per cent.

The two-stage expansion of the plant at the company’s German site in Krefeld-Uerdingen is scheduled for completion by the end of 2019. In a statement, Lanxess said that a “low double-digit million euro sum” will be spent on the conversion measures. In addition, the Advanced Industrial Intermediates (AII) business unit has expansion plans for its Indian site in Nagda. Several process improvements have already led to an increase in benzyl alcohol capacity there in recent years.

“With our two sites in Germany and India and the planned expansions, we are well positioned to meet the growing demand from our customers,” says Michael Ertl, head of the Benzyl Products & Inorganic Acids business line at AII. “We are well equipped to serve both global groups with locations around the world and small and medium-sized companies worldwide.”

Benzyl alcohol is used in a variety of different applications, including as a solvent for coatings, and for some plastics applications.