LEVERKUSEN, Germany (Oct. 3, 2008) — Specialty chemicals manufacturer Lanxess A.G. has launched a pelletizing plant for EPDM rubber at its Marl, Germany, complex.
The company can now manufacture this rubber grade in the form of two- to three-millimeter pellets in its own facility and market them on a commercial scale, Lanxess said. The Leverkusen-based company invested several million dollars in the plant, which has a capacity of three to five metric tons per hour.
The pellets are an important addition to the 25-kilogram compressed bales that have been the standard form of supply until now, Lanxess said. They open up access to new market opportunities, such as in the cable industry or for thermoplastic olefins, made of a blend of plastics and rubber.
TPOs are characterized by very high impact strength, an advantage that makes them ideal for manufacturing automotive bumpers or transport containers, the company said.
The form of supply requested by a customer depends on its handling and processing methods, Lanxess said. In contrast to bales, which the user must first pre-process, pellets are very easy to meter and can be more readily blended with other ingredients.
The pellets will be available in bale or pellet form from the company starting in the fourth quarter.