COVESTRO
Polycarbonate: First Chinese recyclate compounding plant on stream / Asian capacity undergoes major expansion
At its integrated site in Shanghai, German plastics group Covestro (Leverkusen; www.covestro.com) said it has started operations at its first facility for polycarbonate compounds with mechanically recycled household waste.
According to the supplier, the plant has a capacity of 25,000 t/y. The project is Covestro’s response to the growing demand for PC recyclate, especially for electrical and electronic products, car components, and consumer goods.
According to the supplier, the plant has a capacity of 25,000 t/y. The project is Covestro’s response to the growing demand for PC recyclate, especially for electrical and electronic products, car components, and consumer goods.
 Production site for PC recyclates in Shanghai (Photo: Covestro) |
In the Asia-Pacific region, Covestro has committed itself to producing more than 60,000 t/y of polycarbonate compounds made from a combination of virgin material and recyclate by 2026. Recently, the company switched a compounding plant at its Map Ta Phut site in Thailand to such materials.
The company, which is currently in takeover talks with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; www.adnoc.ae), is working toward climate neutrality (Scope 1 and 2) by 2035 and backing both mechanical and chemical PC recycling: the latter is to be featured at a pilot plant Covestro plans to build.
Steps to boost ouput near completion
After eliminating the bottlenecks at several production lines in Map Ta Phut, the company is said to be close to concluding its expansion programme for PC capacity in the Asia-Pacific region, which included the start of new production lines at Chinese sites in Shanghai and Guangzhou as well as in Greater Noida in India. The additional capacity was cited at more than 100,000 t/y.
The moves were not only to satisfy the mounting demand in Asia, but to also offer improved product quality,” said Nicolas Stoeckel, head of operations at the engineering plastics business unit.
The moves were not only to satisfy the mounting demand in Asia, but to also offer improved product quality,” said Nicolas Stoeckel, head of operations at the engineering plastics business unit.
20.10.2023 Plasteurope.com [253846-0]
Published on 20.10.2023
German version of this article...