23.05.2017 • NewsDede WillamsFlame RetardantLanxess

Lanxess Expands Chemtura Flame Retardant Output

LANXESS’s Emerald Innovation 3000 flame retardant production unit in El...
LANXESS’s Emerald Innovation 3000 flame retardant production unit in El Dorado, Arkansas, USA. The debottlenecking project increases the output from 10,000 to 14,000 MT per year. Photo: LANXESS AG

Shortly after acquiring US flame retardant specialist Chemtura, in April, Lanxess has announced it will expand capacity of the Emerald Innovation 3000 flame retardant production unit through debottlenecking, thus increasing sustainable output to 14,000 t/y from 10,000 t/y.

The move supports the switch by polystyrene manufacturers from HBCD (hexabromocyclododecane) flame retardants to more sustainable alternatives, said Anno Borkowsky, head of the Lanxess Additives business unit (ADD), adding that about 50% of global demand has already adopted the new technology.

With global foam producers committed to eliminating HBCD use by 2021, the polymeric brominated flame retardant supply base must be capable of supporting necessary customer conversion and certification activities over the next few years with sufficient supply and technical support, said John Davidson, executive vice president of the EVP bromine solutions business.

The company produces Emerald Innovation 3000 at its El Dorado, Arkansas, USA complex. The business now belonging to Lanxess recently opened a pilot plant at its South Plant facility to support development of new and improved flame retardant products.

Special Issue

Circular Plastics Economy
Explore the Future of Plastics

Circular Plastics Economy

This special CHEManager issue explores the industry’s pivotal shift towards a more sustainable, circular plastics value chain. Readers will find expert analysis and real-world solutions for today’s most pressing recycling and regulatory challenges.

Interview

Stability in Motion
Strategic Response to a Shifting Pharma Landscape

Stability in Motion

Stefan Oelrich, Member of the Board of Management and President Pharmaceuticals, Bayer, discusses navigating external volatility, reshaping its internal structures, and investing in future-ready capabilities to ensure sustainable growth.

most read

Photo
28.07.2025 • NewsChemistry

VCI Welcomes US-EU Customs Deal

The German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) welcomes the fact that Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and US President Donald Trump have averted the danger of a trade war for the time being.