Bayer announces major EPDM capacity hike

LEVERKUSEN, Germany (Jan. 18)—Bayer A.G. will invest $95 million over two years to increase its annual global EPDM capacity by 60 percent to 185,000 metric tons. The expansion includes adding a third production line at a plant in Marl, Germany, and debottlenecking a second plant in Orange, Texas. Due on stream in 2003, the twin expansion program will nearly double capacity of the Marl plant to 115,000 tons and that at Orange by 27 percent to 70,000 tons. The expansion will guarantee a constant supply of EPDM amidst rising demand, Bayer said.