Swedish Perstorp builds capacity in China

Spokesperson Cecilia Nilsson says the company will build a new plant to meet growing demand for the chemical and is currently looking at possible areas.

Perstop produces aliphatic polysicosyanates for high-performance polyurethane coatings. Isocynates are used by manufacturers, particularly OEMs, to harden elastomers and foams in products such as coatings, leather finishing and adhesives.

“We need to build on our position in Asia and in China in particular where the market is experiencing fast growth,” says Eric Aubray, business unit director HDI & Derivates. “To do this we need to boost our production and supply capabilities.”

The market for aliphatic isocyanates is currently experiencing 6% growth worldwide, claims Perstorp.

The company is also hoping to de-bottleneck production at other plants in Pont-de-Claix, France, and Freeport, US, says Nilsson.

In recent years Perstorp has made a number of acquisitions in this area, including Rhodia and Lyondell’s isocyanates business and Solvay’s caprolactones production facilities in the UK.