Written on 16.02.2012 - Industry
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Lanxess strengthens phthalate-free plasticiser portfolio

Lanxess has acquired Unitex Chemical Corporation located in Greensboro, NC, USA. Unitex has about 40 employees and achieved sales of about USD 30 million in 2010.

The Greensboro site has a capacity of more than 50,000 t/y dedicated to mainly producing phthalate-free plasticisers and other speciality products, including flame retardants. Through this acquisition, Lanxess gains access to Unitex’s flexible manufacturing facility coupled with its portfolio of phthalate-free plasticisers, including benzoates, citrates and trimellitates. The transaction strengthens Lanxess’ brands of phthalate-free plasticisers, including Mesamoll, Unimoll, Adimoll and Ultramoll. Financial details were not disclosed.

Furthermore, Lanxess and BioAmber in Minneapolis, MN, USA, have partnered to jointly develop a portfolio of succinic acid-based plasticisers that are both renewable and phthalate-free and can exceed the performance of phthalates at competitive prices. BioAmber produces bio-based succinic acid in a 3,000 t capacity plant in France and expects to bring on an additional 17,000 t of succinic acid capacity in 2013 at a new facility in Sarnia, Canada, located on a site within Lanxess’ Bio-industrial Park. Samples of the new plasticisers are now available and the companies expect to begin commercialisation in 2012.