Lanxess opens first plant in Russia

Lanxess held the opening of its first production facility in Russia. In the new plant at the Lipetsk site, Lanxess subsidiary Rhein Chemie manufactures polymer-bound rubber additives for the markets in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), primarily for the automotive and tire industries.

A production facility for the bladders used in tire production is to be added in 2016. The overall investment volume in euros amounts to a seven-digit figure and 40 new jobs will be created at the new plant in the medium term.

“This production site underlines our focus on the global growth markets. That applies both to the group as a whole and to Rhein Chemie, which now has its own plants in all the BRIC markets,” says Rainier van Roessel, member of the Board of Management of Lanxess AG. As recently as May this year, Rhein Chemie opened a plant for high-performance bladders in Brazil.

The opening of the first production facility in Russia marks yet another milestone in Lanxess’ long-term commitment to this market. Since entering the market in 2009, it has quadrupled its sales in Russia and established strategic partnerships in its target industries and with research institutes.   

Lipetsk offers outstanding conditions for the group with its excellent location in close proximity to its customers and the good infrastructure in the Lipetsk Industrial Park. Every year, the company will produce up to 1,500 metric tons of predispersed, polymer-bound Rhenogran rubber additives at the plant in Lipetsk. Rhein Chemie is a leading supplier for these products, which are used primarily in the manufacture of car tires and technical elastomer products such as profiles, hoses and seals. They are easy to handle and enable faster processing in the rubber compound. Using Rhenogran also significantly increases the quality of rubber components and improves their long-term functionality and durability.

A facility capable of producing up to 80,000 Rhenoshape bladders annually is to be added to the complex in 2016. Bladders are used in the tire industry to give tires their final form and properties.