LANXESS opens Asia’s most modern butyl rubber plant in Singapore

July 12, 2013 12:26 pm

LANXESS inaugurated its new butyl rubber plant on Jurong Island in Singapore. The specialty chemicals company has invested about €400 million in the plant, which will have a capacity of 100,000 tonnes. The plant will create about 160 highly qualified local jobs. The facility is the most modern of its kind in Asia and will produce premium halobutyl rubber as well as regular butyl rubber. The newly opened plant in Singapore joins existing butyl rubber plants in Sarnia, Canada, and Zwijndrecht, Belgium. This means that the specialty chemicals company now has state-of-the-art facilities on three continents. The butyl rubber facility in Singapore went into operation in the first quarter of 2013 and is being ramped up gradually. Commercial production will start in the third quarter of this year. The facility is expected to achieve full capacity in 2015.
“This is the largest investment in the company’s history, and underlines the importance of Asia as a location for our synthetic rubber business,” said Axel C. Heitmann, Chairman, LANXESS, during the opening ceremony. “We have clearly built this plant with the future of mobility in mind because we think and act long term.” Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister, Singapore was also present at the event. He said, “I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to LANXESS on the opening of its first butyl rubber facility in Asia.”