- A two-stage expansion of the German site is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2019
- The Indian site of the Advanced Industrial Intermediates (AII) business unit in Nagda also has expansion plans
German specialty chemicals firm Lanxess is reportedly expanding its production capacity by about 30 percent for the industrial chemical benzyl alcohol for markets across the globe. Apparently, the two-stage expansion of this plant, which is situated in Krefeld-Uerdingen, Germany, is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2019.
Reportedly, a small double-digit million euro would be spent on the conversion measures. Additionally, the Indian site of the Advanced Industrial Intermediates (AII) business unit in Nagda also has expansion plans. A number of process improvements have already resulted in the rise of the capacity of benzyl alcohol in the recent years.
AII’s Head of the Benzyl Products & Inorganic Acids business line, Michael Ertl, mentioned that the company is well positioned for meeting the rising demand from its customers with the help of its two sites in India and Germany and the planned expansions. The company is well equipped for serving both small and medium-sized companies around the world as well as global groups with locations across the globe, Ertl added.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, benzyl alcohol from the specialty chemicals firm is utilized in a wide range of various applications, for instance as a synthetic chemical, as a high-purity preservative for cosmetics and injection solutions, and as a solvent for construction chemicals, color pastes and coatings.
Other applications purportedly include agricultural chemicals, fragrances and flavorings, textile auxiliaries, plastics and adhesives. Benzyl alcohol has been approved as a food additive, in the European Union, with the number E 1519 for producing flavors for bakery products, confectionery and certain beverages.
For the record, a part of the Advanced Intermediates segment, the Lanxess business unit recorded sales of EUR 2.2 billion in fiscal year 2018. Lanxess’ core business is developing, producing and marketing of plastics, specialty chemicals, additives and chemical intermediates.
