DORMAGEN, Germany—Bayer MaterialScience A.G. has inaugurated its new 300,000 tons-per-year toluene diisocyanate production facility in Dormagen. The company invested more than $500 million in the venture, which took 30 months to complete.
The plant will replace existing plants in Dormagen and Brunsbuettel, Germany.
Patrick Thomas, CEO of Bayer MaterialScience, said the plant was “the most efficient facility of its kind in the world, anywhere” and said it would be “the envy of the competition.
“Our processes enable us to achieve energy savings of 60 percent and require 80 percent less solvent,” he said.
Thomas said that the plant would be able to compete on a delivered-cost basis in Europe.
He predicted there will be growth in TDI consumption worldwide.
“In the last quarter, we saw a bit of a slowdown in TDI. The long-term growth rate will be 4 percent to 5 percent, higher than the historical growth rate of 3 percent to 4 percent,” he said. “This is because of developing countries looking for comfort and higher quality materials.”
Thomas added that there will be further restructuring of BMS European TDI portfolio following the closure of the old Dormagan facility and the transfer of staff to the new facility.
“At the right time, we will then close Brunsbuettel,” he said.