SHANGHAI, CHINA: Huntsman and Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical Co Ltd (SCAC) announced plans to double the MDI (diphenylmethane diisocyanate) splitting capacity of their joint venture company, Huntsman Polyurethanes Shanghai Ltd Co (HPS), at the Shanghai Chemical Industrial Park (SCIP) in Caojing, China. With the new plant, MDI splitting capacity at the site will increase from 240,000 to 480,000 metric tonne per year. Commercial operation is planned to start in 2017. The facility will take MDI precursors and split them to create more differentiated, custom made products for downstream markets.
The announcement follows confirmation that Shanghai Lianheng Isocyanate Co Ltd, (SLIC) - in which Huntsman and SCAC are shareholders - will build a new plant to produce 240,000 metric tonne of crude MDI at SCIP, adjacent to its existing 240,000 metric tonne plant. The crude MDI plant and MDI splitter are part of an integrated isocyanates complex that includes manufacturing facilities for the precursors aniline and nitrobenzene.
“We’ve seen an upsurge in demand from Asian customers for higher quality, differentiated products and the new splitter will help us to meet these needs - providing our customers with a full range of next generation solutions for the insulation, automotive, bedding, furniture, adhesives, coatings, elastomers and footwear markets,” said Tony Hankins, President, Polyurethanes division, Huntsman.
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