Bayer MaterialScience increases downstream presence in China
Bayer MaterialScience has announced plans to invest €110 million to build five new downstream facilities in China by 2012, as part of an ongoing process to serve the booming manufacturing sector in the country. The facilities comprise three polyurethanes systems houses, a new polycarbonate sheet facility and a polycarbonate color compounding and design center. Each will be strategically located close to major customers in Shanghai, Qingdao, Chongqing and Guangzhou.
With these projects, Bayer MaterialScience will increase its downstream presence considerably in what has become the company’s second largest market worldwide. Bayer MaterialScience will then have a network covering the main geographical areas of the country. The company currently has a color competence and development center and a polyurethanes systems house in Guangzhou and a further systems house in Nanjing.
“Manufacturing activity is no longer limited to the east and south of China,” explains Peter Vanacker, member of the Bayer MaterialScience Executive Committee and head of the global polyurethanes business. “Many of our customers are opening facilities in the northern and central parts of the country have asked that we continue to support them with customized solutions in these growing industrial regions. We believe it makes good business and economic sense to invest close to them.”
More than 40% of Bayer MaterialScience polyurethanes business in China is currently achieved through supplying polyurethane systems to the construction, appliance and automotive sectors, in particular.
The three new polyurethanes systems houses are to be built in Shanghai, Qingdao and Chongqing. The company intends to build the new color compounding and design center in Chongqing, while the sheet facility is planned in Guangzhou.
Comments