Bayer to expand TDI production in Shanghai - footwearbiz: Leading site

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Bayer to expand TDI production in Shanghai

06/02/2007
 
Bayer MaterialScience AG hopes to boost the annual capacity at its planned toluene diisocyanate (TDI) plant in Shanghai from 160,000 to 300,000 tons. The integrated site is to become a central base in the company’s Asia Pacific production network and the approval procedures for expanding its capacity have already been initiated. Bayer also intends to use part of its production capacity to supply the fast-growing markets in Eastern Europe and the Middle East until new capacities are in place in these regions.

The group expects its newly-developed TDI process technology—known as gas phase phosgenation—to cut investment costs by some 20% compared with conventional processes. It anticipates that TDI consumption will increase by approximately 4% a year and is planning to invest around $1.8 billion at the site by 2009.

Head of the Polyurethanes Business Unit Peter Vanacker said, "Compared with optimised conventional processes, in operational terms this [technology] results in volume-related energy savings of around 40% and a corresponding reduction in costs and environmental impact.”

TDI is an important precursor in the manufacture of polyurethanes that are used in many applications such as the footwear, automotive and construction industries.


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