The Advanced Industrial Intermediates business of German chemical producer Lanxess will invest around €100 million to expand production capacities over the next three years. About €40 million each will be invested in the Leverkusen and Krefeld-Uerdingen sites with the remainder spent in Brunsbüttel and Antwerp in Belgium.  The expansions are scheduled for completion by 2020.

At Krefeld-Uerdingen, Lanxess will increase output of trimethylolpropane, hexanediol and menthols to meet global demand. Construction work is set to start this year. Trimethylolpropane and hexanediol are used in automotive, furniture and construction products, while synthetic menthol is a key component of many aromas and pharmaceuticals.

Work will also start this year at Leverkusen to raise capacity for special amines, which are ultimately used in the automotive industry. In Brunsbüttel, Lanxess will spend €15 million to “considerably” expand its 2-methyl-6-ethylaniline (MEA) plant during 2017. MEA is mainly used as a precursor for crop protection herbicides. At its Kallo/Antwerp site, a “mid-single digit million” euro sum will be invested to raise production of rubber chemicals.

Management board member Hubert Fink said a high proportion of the planned new capacities is already backed by customers’ orders. Lanxess’ Advanced Intermediates business recorded sales of approximately €1.74 billion in 2016.