Lanxess AG (Cologne, Germany; www.lanxess.com) is expanding the capacity of its global production network to safeguard customer supply in the long term. In Krefeld-Uerdingen, site of the world’s largest synthetic iron oxide pigment plant, production capacities for red and black pigments will be gradually increased by around 23,000 metric tons (m.t.), from the current 280,000 m.t., by 2019. Furthermore, by means of modernization, Lanxess is also expanding capacities for yellow pigments by another 2,000 m.t./yr at its site in Porto Feliz, Brazil. Lanxess already expanded its global production network recently by starting up operation of its site in Ningbo, China. The synthesis production facility there, which commenced operation in the first quarter of 2016, is designed for a capacity of 25,000 m.t./yr of red pigment. By taking these measures, Lanxess will be increasing its global production capacities from 375,000 to 400,000 m.t. of iron oxide pigments by 2019.
“The purpose of these investments is to support the growth of our customers,” says Jörg Hellwig, head of the Inorganic Pigments business unit (IPG). As the world market leader in iron oxide pigments and a leading supplier of chrome oxide pigments, Lanxess continuously evaluates the development of the global pigment market. The company expects global demand for iron oxide pigments to grow by an average of three percent per year beyond 2018. Demand for iron oxide pigments will rise significantly due to strong growth in countries like India and the continued recovery of the building industry in North America and parts of Europe. China will also contribute to this development with growth rates remaining at a high level.
Paints and coatings are the second-largest field of application for synthetic iron oxide pigments, making up one quarter of total global consumption – and the trend is on the rise. “By 2025, we expect global annual growth in the demand for iron oxide to reach an average of 4%. We believe in particular that the demand for high-quality pigments with uniform global standards will increase,” adds Hellwig.
Although China is by far the largest producer of synthetic iron oxides, with over 50% of total global supply, the number of production locations for synthetic iron oxide pigments has been decreasing steadily for several years. This is a result of the consistent implementation of environmental regulations by both pigment manufacturers and the pigment processing industry. The number of production locations has dropped by half since 2008, resulting in a reduction in supply, particularly in the segment for red pigments. According to Lanxess, this consolidation process is likely to continue.
Uniform global production standards are an integral part of Lanxess’s image. Its production processes have always been designed to be safe, to conserve resources and to preserve the environment, and they are subject to ongoing improvement. The company’s consistent focus on sustainable production processes is paying off in China.
To ensure a reliable and sustainable supply of iron oxide red pigments to customers, Lanxess recently invested in the construction of a new production site in Ningbo, China. It uses the Ningbo Process, which is based on patented technology. The development and start-up of this technology, which for the first time enables the eco-friendly production of yellow-cast red pigments and fulfills the very high Chinese environmental standards, went through a very intense development phase. “In light of our high quality expectations and in accordance with our own high demands on sustainable production, we have conducted extensive test runs since 2016. This trial phase has now largely been concluded,” says Hellwig.