After opening a new production facility in Shanghai’s Jinshan Second Industry Zone / China, US chemicals giant Huntsman (The Woodlands, Texas; www.huntsman.com) is now capable of producing thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) at three different global sites. The new USD 20m plant, with reported output of 21,000 t/y, complements Huntsman existing facilities in Osnabrück / Germany and Ringwood, Illinois / USA.

Huntsman said the new facility will cater to rising regional demand for TPUs, used in a range of consumer and industrial applications, including footwear and automotive components, among others. Commenting on the new facility, Tony Hankins, Huntsman’s Asia Pacific CEO and president of its Polyurethanes division, said, “China has become the largest market for TPU products and this new facility will significantly improve our supply capabilities.”

By the time this article went to press, Plasteurope.com had not heard back from Huntsman regarding its query about TPU capacities in Osnabrück and Ringwood. In 2007, the US group announced a capacity upgrade at the German site, which then had capacity for 13,500 t/y. At that time, its TPU output in Ringwood was said to be 9,000 t/y – see Plasteurope.com of 30.11.2007.