LIPETSK, Russia (July 5, 2013) – German chemicals producer Lanxess A.G. has opened a rubber additives processing plant in Lipetsk and disclosed plans to add capacity there by 2016 for rubber bladders used in tire curing presses.
The new unit is operated by Lanxess subsidiary Rhein Chemie. Lanxess said the investment was in excess of $1.3 million but did not disclose the exact sum.
The plant opens with annual capacity of 1.5 million metric tons of Rhenogran-brand "polymer-bound rubber additives" for markets in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Construction began in June 2012; employment is 40.
"Opening our first production facility in Russia marks yet another milestone in our long-term commitment to this market. Since entering the market in 2009, we have quadrupled our sales in Russia and established strategic partnerships in our target industries and with research institutes.
"The new facility will enable us to harness market potential more effectively, particularly in the automotive and tire industries," according to Werner Breuers, Lanxess board member, who said Lanxess has quadrupled its sales volume in in Russia in the four years since establishing a sales company there to more than $100 million.
Lanxess said it expects to benefit from steady Russian automotive sector growth in the mid to high single digit range.
Rhenogran polymer-bound chemicals are used by makers of car tires and technical elastomer products such as profiles, hoses and seals.
Annual capacity for Rhenoshape bladders is expected to be up to 80,000, Lanxess said.
Rhein Chemie claims to be world's largest independent producer of curing bladders. The firm entered the bladder market in 2011 with the purchase of Darmex, an Argentinian company. Last year it added Tire Curing Bladders L.L.C. of Little Rock, Ark.
