Chinese pigment plant for Lanxess

Lanxess has announced it is to expand its global production network for inorganic pigments in China.
A new high-tech facility for premium iron oxide red pigments is being constructed at the Ningbo Chemical Park on the Chinese East Coast.
The plant, with highly modern environmental standards, will initially have a capacity of 25,000t/yr. The investment of about €55M will create 150 new jobs and construction will begin in Q2, 2013 with startup scheduled for Q1, 2015.
"We are committed to support our customers’ growth plans by ensuring a secure supply of an extended range of innovative pigments based on leading German technology,” said Rainier van Roessel, Member of the Lanxess Board of Management. "This investment also underlines Lanxess’ position as a key supplier of innovative products for the megatrend urbanisation.”
Ningbo, located in the coastal province of Zhejiang, is China’s second largest cargo port. The location for the plant is the Ningbo Petrochemical Economic & Technological Development Zone (NPEDZ). The site will initially cover approximately seven hectares. A further plot of similar size has been reserved for potential expansion. The highlights of the industrial area are the outstanding infrastructure and logistical links. The largest terminal for liquid chemicals in China is located there.
Lanxess will manufacture high quality iron oxide red pigments at the plant using an improved and highly sustainable Penniman process. "With our advanced and innovative production process, we are raising the bar for the production of iron oxide pigments worldwide, especially in terms of water treatment, waste gas cleaning and energy consumption,” said Joerg Hellwig, Head of the Inorganic Pigments business unit. "In addition, the new plant will strengthen our global production network of existing plants in Germany, China and Brazil.”
The company will market its yellow shaded red pigments under the brand Bayferrox.