WeylChem Plans new Chlorination Unit in Frankfurt
The WeylChem Group of Companies (WCGC) is planning to build a new production facility for aromatic ring chlorination at its site in Frankfurt, Germany’s Höchst chemical park. Start-up is expected in the first quarter of 2022.
Company president Uwe Brink said the investment will strengthen the site’s existing side-chain chlorination technology and establish a sustainable production cycle, while increasing capacity and guaranteeing its customers flexibility in complying with EU regulatory standards.
By optimizing the efficient use of resources toward forward integration of its VP3 plant, Brunk said the group of nine chemical companies will be able to meet the growing demand in Europe for local and resilient supply chains as well as participating in the drive for a circular economy.
Parallel to its investment at Höchst, the WeylChem Group will also back-integrate and install its own proprietary supply chain to use the products in its HALEX plant at Allessa in Frankfurt.
As a special advantage of its planned new facility, management notes that 4-chlorobenzotrichloride (p-TRI), a byproduct of side-chain chlorination, can be refined to 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorobenzoyl chloride (TCBC) in the new plant, thus helping to reduce the waste footprint “significantly.”
According to WeylChem, which is the fine chemicals platform of International Chemicals Investors Group, the investment in Frankfurt is also a strategic step in advancing its repositioning in the technology chain and boosting its position as a manufacturer.
Author: Dede Williams, Freelance Journalist
