6 February 2007 – Bayer MaterialScience is planning to increase TDI capacity from its existing 160,000tpa to 300,000tpa as part of a previously announced $1.8bn investment at its site in Shanghai.
The expansion is scheduled to be on stream by 2009. It will use the company’s latest technology, termed gas phase phosgenation, which is claimed to reduce investment and energy costs dramatically.
The technology has already been trialled successfully at a 30,000tpa pilot plant. It demonstrated energy savings of up to 40%, as well as new standards in safety and a significant reduction in solvent use.
The integrated Shanghai site is intended to become a central base in the company’s production network in the Asia-Pacific region. Part of the new TDI capacity, however, will be used to supply markets in eastern Europe and the Middle East until other new capacities are in place.
