BAYER EXpands biocide
production in U.S.,
Announces new plans in China
Bayer Chemicals AG has made two announcements affecting its production capabilities in the U.S. and China.
Last month, Bayer took over production of all the biocidal formulations based on thiabendazole (TBZ) and dibromodicyanobutane (DBDCB) that it acquired from Ondeo Nalco at the end of 2002. Bayer is manufacturing them in Wellford, SC. These EPA-approved biocides and their formulations are marketed under the Tektamer, Metasol and Biochek names. Prior to the switch, the products had been manufactured by Ondeo Nalco. Bayer Chemicals invested $500,000 at the facility in South Carolina to handle the added production.
Additionally, Bayer has announced that it will build a world-scale production plant for hexamethylene diiosyanate (HDI) in Shanghai. The announcement about the new plant in China came at May 4 ceremony attended by Gerhard Schröder, German Chancellor, Wen Jiabao, Chinese Premier and Werner Wenning, chairman of the board of management of Bayer AG. Gottfried Plumpe, member of the board of management of Bayer MaterialScience AG was also on hand to sign the agreement with Ruan Yanhua, president of the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park Corporation.
The $100 million project at Bayer’s facility in Caojing will include a production center with a total capacity of up to 50,000 tons per year. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall.
Bayer said it will invest $3.1 billion in the site over the next few years, making it the main production facility for Bayer MaterialScience’s coatings raw materials business in the Asia-Pacific region.