Lanxess has decided to double capacity for reverse osmosis (RO) membranes at its site in Bitterfeld, Germany, in order to meet rising demand. Jean-Marc Vesselle, head of Lanxess’ Liquid Purification Technologies business unit, said the Lewabrane plant, which is operated by wholly owned subsidiary IAB Ionenaustrauscher, is currently operating at close to its limit. The additional production will go on stream in the second half of 2017, creating up to 10 new jobs.

According to Lanxess, the market for RO membrane elements is forecast to grow at an above-average rate of 10% per year to 2020. The company added that it continuously researches all areas of modern water treatment, co-operating with the Fraunhofer Institutes for Factory Operation and Automation (IFF) in Magdeburg, and for Microstructure of Materials and Systems (IMWS) in Halle, for example.

Lanxess said it has spent €40 million on the Bitterfeld site in the last five years, growing during that time to become a leading player in the water treatment market. The Cologne-headquartered specialty chemical company also operates ion exchange resins plants in Leverkusen, Germany, and Jhagadia, India.