Lanxess opens Application Development Centre for Asian plastics industry in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, April 18, 2013: Lanxess, the specialty chemicals company, has opened a new Asia-Pacific Application Development Centre for its high-tech plastics in the Hong Kong Science & Technology Park. It is run by the High Performance Materials (HPM) business unit and provides comprehensive and high-value services ranging from concept development support, computer-aided design, computer-aided engineering and mold-design assistance to part test applications for the automotive industry and other segments.

The Asia-Pacific Application Development Centre will be the technology hub for customers in the Asia-Pacific region and India. It offers customers comprehensive engineering services in all stages of developing a new application; for injection moulded and blow moulded parts, as well as for composite sheet applications. Technical support capabilities span from initial feasibility studies to high-tech testing.

“The new Application Development Centre will support our customers and industry partners with parts development and qualification for successful launching of new applications and plastics parts. With the top-notch simulation tools, we are able to provide innovative solutions for cost reduction, environmental protection, energy savings and shortening time to market,” said Thomas Babl, Head of Technical Marketing & Engineer Services for High Performance Materials APAC. “This centre will help to evaluate the reliability, performance and compliance of prototype parts and mass production parts according to customers’ engineering specifications,” he added.

“Complementing the current R&D testing centre in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, the Asia-Pacific Application Development Centre in Hong Kong will focus on external cooperation and demands from customers,” said Christof Krogmann, Head of High Performance Materials business unit for the APAC region. “Working with the Hong Kong Science & Technology Park, which houses more than 300 high-technology enterprises of all sizes and academic institutions, will open up more opportunities for cooperation in the science development for us.”

The new facility in Hong Kong will enhance Lanxess/ capabilities to serve the expanding ‘Green Mobility’ trend by providing testing services for plastics applications in the auto industry in application areas including: under-the-hood, chassis, engines and oil pans.

“High-performance plastics play a vital role in the Green Mobility megatrend by reducing auto weight and fuel consumption as lighter alternatives to metals. With our technology know-how, expertise in lightweight solutions as well as high performance Pocan and Durethan products, we are committed to driving the automotive industry towards a greener future,” added Krogmann. Lanxess has been quick to respond to the increase in demand for products from the HPM business unit due to the trend toward lightweight construction in vehicle production. It has invested in the expansion of the capacities in the Asia Pacific region. In Wuxi, China, the company expanded the production facility for high-tech plastics in 2011, raising production by around 20,000 metric tons per year to a total of 60,000 metric tons. In India, in 2012, the company opened a new compounding plant in Jhagadia, with an initial capacity of 20,000 metric tons per year. These two facilities supply the entire Asia-Pacific region with Durethan and Pocan.

The full report on Lanxess’ new Application Deveelopment Centre in Hong Kong will appear in Autocar Professional’s forthcoming May 1 issue, which incorporates an Automotive Lightweighting Special.