AkzoNobel launches EUR12 million organic peroxides expansion in Mexico
AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals is investing more than EUR12 million to expand production capacity and upgrade its organic peroxides facility in Los Reyes, Mexico. Organic peroxides are essential ingredients in the manufacturing of a wide range of polymers.
The project involves construction of a new facility to make Perkadox CH-50 organic peroxides, which are sold primarily into the thermoset resin market, where the company is a global market leader. One of the key growth segments for this market is ambient temperature curing of acrylic resins, which are used in road marking, resurfacing and roofing applications.
The investment is the latest in a series of recent investments at the Los Reyes site by the company’s Polymer Chemistry business. In January 2017, it finalized a EUR22 million organic peroxides expansion, followed in May by the completion of a project which increased overall peroxyester capacity in North America by 40%. The latest expansion project is expected to be completed by May 2019.
“We have a growing portfolio of customers, so continued investment to increase production capability at Los Reyes is critical to ensure we continue to meet demand while positioning ourselves for sustainable growth,” explains Johan Landfors, Executive Committee Member responsible for Polymer Chemistry. “Mexico is an important market for us. Expanding our operations in Los Reyes also means we will need to hire more people, which is good news for the local economy.”
Over the last three years, the Polymer Chemistry business has invested more than EUR100 million to better serve its customers in the polymer industry, upgrading technologies, increasing capacity and repositioning its global manufacturing footprint.
“The investments have reinforced our leadership position in the global market for chemicals to the polymer industry,” says Werner Fuhrmann, CEO of AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals. “We are committed to investing in production capabilities across all our businesses so we can support the growth of our customers in key markets around the world.”