LANXESS shows its continued commitment to the Indian construction industry

Mumbai, February 5, 2013: LANXESS, the global specialty chemicals company and one of the world’s leading manufacturers of synthetic iron oxide pigments is participating in the bC India expo 2013 showcasing its unmatched range of iron oxide and chromium oxide pigments. India’s fast growing construction industry is a key market for the LANXESS Inorganic Pigments business unit. At the exhibition, LANXESS representatives will have the opportunity to engage with customers from the construction industry. Here, the company will show its continued commitment to being a sustainably operating supplier of colored inorganic pigments to the construction industry.

Inorganic pigments from LANXESS, marketed under the well-known brands Bayferrox®  and Colortherm®, display high color strength, are extremely lightfast and weather-resistant and are characterized by their high quality, stability and the environmentally-friendly processing. The construction industry is one of the largest consumers of Bayferrox® pigments, which are used to color materials such as cast in-situ concrete, pre-cast concrete components, concrete roofing tiles, pavers and asphalt.  They are available in powder, micronized, granule and compact pigment forms.  

The Bayferrox® granule and compact ranges are particularly low-dusting and have higher bulk density compared to the corresponding powder grades, which can constitute an advantage in handling, transportation and storage. All granulated pigments are available in black, yellow, red and brown colors.

The global competence center for construction within the Inorganic Pigments business unit provides technical service to customers in all aspects of pigment processing, mixing and metering technology.

The LANXESS Inorganic Pigments business unit (IPG) has continually invested in further capacity expansion across the world. As part of this effort, LANXESS is expanding its global production network for inorganic pigments. A new high-tech facility for premium iron oxide red pigments is being constructed at the Ningbo Chemical Park on the Chinese East Coast. This plant, with state-of-the-art environmental standards, will initially have an annual capacity of 25,000 metric tons. Backed by an investment of about EUR 55 million will create 150 new jobs. Construction will begin in the second quarter 2013. The production startup is scheduled for the first quarter of 2015.

“Our newly announced investment in China will enhance our portfolio with an extended range of innovative pigments based on leading German technology,” said Wolfgang Oehlert, Head of LANXESS Inorganic Pigments for the APAC region.

LANXESS will manufacture high quality iron oxide red pigments at the new plant using an improved and highly sustainable Penniman process.

“With our advanced and innovative production process, we are raising the bar for the production of iron oxide pigments worldwide especially in terms of water treatment, waste gas cleaning and energy consumption,” said Joerg Hellwig, Head of the Inorganic Pigments business unit. “In addition, the new plant will strengthen our global production network of existing plants in Germany, China and Brazil, enabling each region to better serve its local customer base in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner,” he added.

The company will market their yellow shaded red pigments globally under the well-known brand Bayferrox®. Key customers for the yellow pigments are manufacturers of paints and coatings as well as suppliers to the construction and plastics industries.

LANXESS Inorganic Pigments has a global presence with production facilities in Germany, China, and Brazil as well as with additional mixing and milling facilities in Australia, the UK, Spain and the United States.  The business unit has annual capacities of around 350,000 metric tons of iron oxide and chromium oxide pigments is part of LANXESS’ Performance Chemicals segment, which recorded sales of EUR 2.1 billion in fiscal 2011.