(openPR) - Initial leather chemicals output of 1,800 metric tons per year; LANXESS steps up investments in China; Senior German politician Juergen Ruettgers attends event

Specialty chemicals company LANXESS AG has inaugurated a new production line for the leather chemical LEVOTAN® at its Wuxi site in China. The production line will have an initial output of 1,800 metric tons per year.

LEVOTAN® LB is a polymer tanning material based on modified polyamide carboxylic acid with a softening and filling effect for use in the retannage of chrome and vegetable leather. It not only provides low specific weight, but also results in excellent softness and uniform grain pattern after milling and a unique pleasant touch.

“This new production line reinforces LANXESS’ role as a leading supplier of softening polymer tanning materials. It helps us to fulfill the increasing demand for chemicals for the tanning of leather with a low specific weight,” said Dr. Rainier van Roessel, member of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG, at the inauguration ceremony.

Dr. van Roessel added that the investment underlines LANXESS’ strategy of strengthening its local presence in the promising BRIC markets, in particular China, whose domestic economy is expected to grow by more than eight percent this year—an outstanding performance given the global economic crisis.

The ceremony was also attended Wuxi Party Secretary Yang Weize as well as Dr. Juergen Ruettgers, Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Dr. Ruettgers attended the inauguration accompanied by a delegation including German and Chinese businessmen, government officials and representatives of the media.

In his speech, State Premier Ruettgers praised the strong relationship between North Rhine-Westphalia and China as well as its partner provinces Jiangsu and Sichuan. The cities of Wuxi and Leverkusen in North Rhine-Westphalia, where LANXESS is headquartered, have been partner cities since 2006.

Dr. Ruettgers said, “We are always interested to learn about a German company’s business activities in China and I am especially impressed by the high production standards, occupational safety and environmental protection at the site here in Wuxi.”

LANXESS Wuxi is located at the Wuxi National High and New Tech Industrial Development Zone and has more than 300 employees. The company produces chemical products for leather processing and engineering plastics. In 2009, LANXESS Wuxi received two awards – the “Safe Producing and Integrity Enterprise in Jiangsu Province in 2008” and “Outstanding Wuxi Company in Implementing Social Responsibility”. Both awards recognized LANXESS’ commitment to operating safely and in an environmentally conscious way.

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 6.58 billion in 2008 and currently around 14,600 employees in 23 countries. The company is represented at 46 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals. More information at www.lanxessgoesasia.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by LANXESS AG management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 6.58 billion in 2008 and currently around 14,600 employees in 23 countries. The company is represented at 46 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals. More information at www.lanxessgoesasia.com.

Maggie Tan
Corporate Communications
LANXESS Pte Ltd
9 Benoi Sector, Singapore 629844
Direct   (65) 6725 5821
Fax      (65) 6264 5329
Email   maggie.tan@lanxess.com
Web: www.lanxess.com/ , www.lanxessgoesasia.com/