Speciality chemicals producer Albemarle (Baton Rouge, Louisiana / USA; www.albemarle.com) and one of China’s leading bauxite and alumina producers, Senze Meilu (Shanxi) have signed definitive agreements to establish a joint venture company in Lvliang, Shanxi in northern China.

Pending final approval from the relevant Chinese government authorities, the venture, Albemarle Senze Chemicals (Shanxi) Company, will build a 50,000 t/y plant producing fine precipitated alumina trihydrate (ATH) flame retardants based on Albemarle's proprietary technology, "Martinal", which is primarily utilised in wire and cable applications.

"This venture will advance our position in the fastest-growing segments of the wire and cable markets in Asia and India and it complements Albemarle's existing world scale production facility in Bergheim, Germany," says Troy DeSoto, a global vice president at Albemarle.

Production at the new facility is expected to begin in mid-2015. Albemarle, as majority stakeholder, will market Martinal on behalf of the joint venture in the high-growth Asia-Pacific and Indian markets.

Liulin County Senze Meilu Company Ltd, as the Chinese JV company is officially known, is a privately-held entity, which also operates two alumina plants, a 100,000 t/y sintering plant and a 600,000 t/y Bayer plant.

Fine precipitated alumina trihydrate is considered an environmentally-friendly, mineral-based flame retardant and smoke suppressant used in a variety of polyolefin resins. The largest, fastest-growing application is in low-smoke wire and cable applications within the energy sector, which is benefiting from rising energy consumption in China and other rapidly developing economies throughout Asia-Pacific. Other applications include polyvinyl chloride, thermosets, engineering thermoplastics, and rubber in a variety of electrical, construction and transportation applications.