Lanxess starts construction on first Russian plant

ERJ staff report (R&PN)

Leverkusen, Germany -- Lanxess AG is beginning construction on its first production facility in Russia, a rubber chemicals plant to be run by its Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH subsidiary.

The site, to be located in the city of Dzerzhinsk in the Nizhny Novgorod region, will serve Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States nations, the German rubber and chemicals maker said. The project is due to be completed by the start of 2011, creating 50 new jobs.

Rhein Chemie will produce up to 1,500 metric tons of Rhenogran- and Rhenodiv-brand rubber additives and release agents at the plant. The chemicals primarily will be used for the manufacture of car tyres and technical rubber products such as seals and hoses.

The subsidiary has supplied Russian customers from facilities in Germany and will continue to do so until the new plant is completed.

Lanxess formed its own company in Russia, called OOO Lanxess, in 2009, opening a sales office in Moscow of last year.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)