On 1 January 2013, Lanxess (Leverkusen / Germany; www.lanxess.com) split into two its Technical Rubber Products business. Headquartered in Geleen / The Netherlands, the new "Keltan" Elastomers division focuses on ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM), and is overseen by former Technical Rubber Products head Günther Weymans. The business – which received a significant boost when Lanxess acquired DSM’s Keltan business in 2011 (see Plasteurope.com of 15.12.2010) – employs about 600 workers at sites in Marl / Germany, Orange / USA, Triunfo / Brazil and Changzhou / China. Its main focus will be the production of EPDM, used among others in hoses, seals, belts and additives.

The second new offshoot from Technical Rubber Products is the High Performance Elastomers business unit, which focuses on a more diversified product portfolio, including NBR, HNBR, EVM and CR. The division will be located in Cologne / Germany and is headed by Jan Paul de Vries, formerly in charge of EMEA Advanced Materials in Lanxess’ High Performance Materials division. The new business employs about 900 workers at sites in Dormagen and Leverkusen / Germany, La Wantzenau / France, Orange / USA and Nantong / China. Its main focus is on rubber specialties and high-performance rubber.