LANXESS is again exhibiting this year at Interplastica in Moscow, a key trade fair for the plastics industry in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). “Russia and its neighboring countries are becoming increasingly important to our thermoplastics, rubber, dye and additives business operations. In this region, we particularly benefit from strong growth, driven by the megatrends of mobility and urbanization,” explained Dr. Werner Breuers, member of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG, ahead of the trade fair.

Innovations for lightweight, low-emission cars
One focal point of LANXESS’ exhibits is innovative material and component solutions for sustainable, low-emission mobility based on the Durethan polyamides and the Pocan polybutylene terephthalates (PBTs). For instance, a charge air tube with integrated bellows will be on show. It represents an example of the wide range of blow-moldable polyamides that LANXESS has on offer for components in the airflow management systems of low-consumption, turbocharged engines. “This range includes everything from very soft, extremely tough polyamides to comparatively stiff ones, all of which exhibit high thermal stability,” explained Hartwig Meier, head of product and application development in the High Performance Materials business unit of LANXESS.

Weight reduction through continuous-fiber-reinforced composites
An example of a lightweight construction exhibit is the front end of the Audi A8. Part of its lower beam is a U-shaped profile made from a TEPEX continuous-fiber-reinforced polyamide composite from the LANXESS subsidiary Bond-Laminates. This profile enables a weight saving of 20 percent compared to an aluminum equivalent. A polyamide charging plug for electric vehicles and a PBT connector for front headlights will also be on show.

Colorants and additives
LANXESS’ presentations also focus on Bayplast and Bayferrox color pigments and soluble Macrolex dyes that are lightfast, weather-resistant and exhibit brilliant colors. These enable a wide variety of plastic components such as PET drinks bottles or household appliance housings to be designed according to the latest color trends. Additives for enhancing plastics, such as the phthalate-free plasticizer Mesamoll or the high-performance antihydrolysis agent Stabaxol, are another issue.

Growth market Russia
Along with Brazil, India, China and South Africa (the other BRICS countries), Russia is one of LANXESS’ focuses for growth. In July of last year, for example, the specialty chemicals company opened a production facility for polymer-bound rubber additives in the new plant at the Lipetsk site. This will primarily target the automotive and tire industries in Russia and the CIS countries. It is planned that a production facility for the bladders used in tire production will be added in 2016.