German specialty chemicals company LANXESS has completed another step in its technical improvement drive and expansion for yellow iron oxide pigments production in Jinshan, Shanghai, China. The plant can now run at a full capacity of 28,000 metric tons.

LANXESS Jinshan site is the largest production for yellow iron oxide pigments in Asia.

The combination of various individual measures has led to a significant increase in the production efficiency of the existing plant. For example, steam generation has been consolidated in one boiler house operation with a state-of-the-art off-gas cleaning system.

“LANXESS’ Inorganic Pigments business unit is planning to grow further. We are confident in the growth opportunities offered by the APAC region and want in particular to serve rising market demand in China for high-quality pigments in the long term,” says Jörg Hellwig, head of the Inorganic Pigments business unit.

LANXESS plans to optimize the environmental protection facilities of the site, for example upgrading the sewerage system. The water supply and the fire-fighting system will also be improved through a shift to over-ground piping, enabling greater availability and allowing better monitoring. This phase is scheduled for completion in 2011. The business unit will invest 6 million Euro up to this time.

The Jinshan facility of the Inorganic Pigments business unit opened in 2007 and is a good example of environmentally friendly pigment production. Thanks to the site’s own state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant upstream of the external treatment facility of the industrial park, the site meets LANXESS globally binding standards, which in some cases go beyond the legal stipulations. In 2009, LANXESS reduced emissions by more than 15 percent by applying innovative technologies in energy utilization and water management.

“These improvements are very important for reaching the next level of production excellence here in Jinshan,” says Dr. Wolfgang Oehlert, head of the Asia-Pacific activities of LANXESS’ Inorganic Pigments business unit. “The recently introduced improvements will enable us to sustainable meet the specific requirements of customers in China and Asia-Pacific with customized products. This will boost our competitiveness and allow us to profitably expand our market share.”