AkzoNobel announced that it will invest €140 million to modify its chlorine facility in Frankfurt, Germany, to include an advanced membrane electrolysis technology.
With the new plant, AkzoNobel will expand its existing capacity by nearly 50% and enhance the overall eco-footprint for every ton of product by roughly 30%. The company will also strengthen its presence in the chloromethanes and caustic lye markets in Europe.
During the last quarter of 2013, the Frankfurt facility will start production with an expected capacity of 250 kilotons from its current capacity of 165 kilotons. AkzoNobel Industrial Chemicals runs two chlorine production facilities in Netherlands and three in Germany. These five plants produced over one million tons of chlorine in total in 2010. The company acquired the Frankfurt facility following its acquisition of LII Europe in 2009.
According to AkzoNobel’s executive committee member for specialty chemicals, Rob Frohn, the investment is in line with the company’s values and objectives. The Managing Director for AkzoNobel Industrial Chemicals, Knut Schwalenberg commented that switching to an advanced membrane technology perfectly fits with the company’s sustainability program and carbon policy. It will specifically support the company’s growing chloromethanes business, he added.
Source: http://www.akzonobel.com