Russian chemicals and nylon maker KuibyshevAzot has established an engineering compounds plant in China in cooperation with a local partner. The new plant has been fitted with two newly commissioned Berstorff compounding lines and will supply the Chinese and South East Asian markets.
The initial target for the 10,000tpa operation in Shanghai is to make glass reinforced nylon 6 but the two lines, of 1,000kg/hr and 300kg/hr output, are also suited to producing reinforced polypropylene grades.
The Berstorff equipment was based on a modular concept, which, according to Roman Meytis, general manager of KuibyshevAzot Engineering Plastics, saved both time and cost. Both lines were initially mounted at Berstorff’s Hanover facility for initial tests with the customer.
The Russian firm, whose roots lie in nitrogen production, is the country’s largest producer of nylon 6, using its own caprolactam resources.
