China’s Experts Tour LANXESS Plant in Germany

Singapore, 9 April 2009 - Objective to exchange knowledge on environmentally friendly production processes

On 2 April 2009, experts from China National Coatings Industrial Association (CNCIA) visited the inorganic pigments plant of specialty chemicals company LANXESS AG in Krefeld, Germany. The LANXESS business unit shared with them insights on high-tech production processes, focusing on how to manufacture iron oxide pigments in an environmentally friendly way.

LANXESS operates a certified environmental management system in line with DIN EN ISO 14001. This means that LANXESS pigments are non-toxic, physiologically safe and pose no risk to the environment.

Joerg Hellwig, head of the global Inorganic Pigments (IPG) business unit at LANXESS, emphasized the advantages of LANXESS’s environmental friendly iron oxide pigments. He also reinforced the company’s commitment to conserve the environment and resources.

Hellwig said, “At LANXESS, we have a long tradition of responsible chemical production. We are happy to share this knowledge, as we are convinced that environmental protection is a global task, which everyone should contribute.”

CNCIA Director Mrs. Fan Shen said, “China’s chemical industry is paying greater attention to energy and environmental issues, in order to reach healthier growth.”

She added, “Each industry player needs to be accountable for providing high quality products as well as its environmental impact. We are impressed with those sophisticated processes we saw at LANXESS and hope to leverage this know-how for technological and environmental improvements in China.”

Dr. Rolf Haselhorst, responsible for strategic projects at LANXESS IPG business unit, welcomed the delegation in Krefeld and introduced them to the “Laux process” – the most state-of-the-art and environmental friendly production method for inorganic pigments. At LANXESS in Krefeld, this is the standard production procedure.

In the Laux process, the pigment slurry produced during the manufacturing process is cleared of unreacted iron residues and washed to eliminate salts. Through careful drying, yellow and black pigments are obtained directly, while red pigments are produced through the oxidizing calcination of black raw pigments in rotary kilns.

Haselhorst said, “The deployment of resource-conserving and environmental friendly production processes is an important part of our global sustainability strategy. LANXESS uses the waste water of the iron oxide plants completely to produce an iron oxide black by a specially developed process in a recovering plant.”

About Inorganic Pigments in Krefeld (Germany)
Today, this plant in Krefeld – the largest synthetic iron oxide pigment plant in the world – is operated by LANXESS with around 620 employees. On September 1, 2006, the 11 millionth ton of iron oxide pigment was produced. The color range includes yellow, black, red and brown.

Iron oxide pigments are an important product for the coloring of construction materials like paving stones, roofing tiles and ready mix concrete. Bayferrox® pigments are known throughout the world and are available in a range of 250 color shades. Color pigments are also used for the coloration of paints, plastics and foodstuffs, and in cosmetics and landscape design. Across the globe, LANXESS pigments have established a solid position for themselves in each of these fields of application.

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 leader in specialty chemicals with sales in 2008 of EUR 6.58 billion and currently around 14,800 employees in 21 countries. The company has operations at 44 sites worldwide. LANXESS’s core business comprises the development, manufacture and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals. More information at http://www.lanxessgoesasia.com

Maggie Tan
Corporate Communications
LANXESS Pte Ltd
9 Benoi Sector, Singapore 629844
Tel       (65) 6725 5888
Direct   (65) 6725 5821
Fax      (65) 6264 5329
Email   maggie.tan@lanxess.com
Web: http://www.lanxess.com/ , http://www.lanxessgoesasia.com/

This release was published on openPR.