EUROPEAN PLASTICS NEWS
Published: June 26, 2014 12:29 pm ET
Updated: June 26, 2014 12:43 pm ET
Switzerland-based specialty chemicals company Clariant has announced it is increasing its capacity for Licocene Performance Polymers by 50 percent at its facility in Frankfurt, Germany.
The company says that the debottlenecking and increased capacity will meet growing demand particularly from Turkey, India, China and Indonesia. Clariant states that the additional capacity is scheduled to come on stream in the first quarter of 2016.
Clariant have not revealed an exact figure for the investment but have said that in Swiss francs it is in the low double-digit millions.
“The decision to increase capacity reflects the steady double-digit growth experienced for Licocene Performance Polymers since their launch in 2006. It presents an efficient opportunity to support the current strong rise in demand particularly from China, India, Indonesia and Turkey, in line with Clariant’s general strategy to invest in growing businesses,” said Christian Kohlpaintner, member of Clariant’s executive committee.
Clariant states Licocene Performance Polymers are used for mattresses, furniture and carpets for automotive and aerospace interiors. They are also used in the manufacture of masterbatches and engineering plastics, as well as in industrial coatings, and in printing inks and adhesives for packaging applications.
Clariant, with headquarters in Muttenz, reported sales of nearly 5 billion euros ($6.8 billion) in 2013. | 
