Tessenderlo Group to start automotive compounding in China

Tessenderlo Group has signed, through its French subsidiary CTS, an agreement with the Chinese authorities to start up a new production plant. This plant will produce thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) and PVC slush compounds for its customers in the automotive industry.

Production is scheduled to start in autumn 2011, with employment growing progressively to approximately 70 people. The new plant will be located in Changsu (Jiangsu province), about 90 km from Shanghai.

CTS Automotive Compounds (Changsu) Ltd. will produce for the Asian market with 3 production lines. The products that will be manufactured are CTS Tefabloc® compounds (TPEs) for airbag covers, sealing applications, cables and interior parts, as well as the Marvyflo® compounds (PVC slush moulding) for dashboards and door panels.

This investment is in line with the strategy of Tessenderlo Group’s Business Unit Compounds, which aims to increase its presence in the growing automotive markets, especially in Asia.

Albert Vasseur, Tessenderlo Group’s Director of Plastics Converting, explains: “With our know how and expertise in working with customers in the automotive world, we are confident that we can grow further into becoming a leading supplier of automotive speciality compounds in China.”