LEVERKUSEN, Germany—Lanxess A.G. plans to streamline both the portfolio and plant network of its Rubber Chemicals business unit. The company said the realignment is part of a larger plan for Lanxess to boost competitiveness at the Performance Chemicals segment's international sites.
The Bushy Park site in North America will assume production of the accelerator Vulkacit CZ from the Belgian plant in Kallo. Production for the accelerators Vulkacit DZ and Vulkacit NZ will shift from Bushy Park to Kallo. The changes will go into effect by 2014.
According to the company changes at Kallo are expected to reduce 45 jobs from its current total of 205. Bushy Park is expected to remain unchanged at 60.
The company is also discontinuing production of the vulcanization accelerator Vulkacit MOZ at the Kallo site in 2014 and the inhibitors Vulkanox 3100 and Vulkanox DPPD, both produced at the Isithebe site in South Africa.
The company will also close the Isithebe site, affecting around 40 employees.