The board of management of Covestro has approved an expansion of production capacity for the foam component MDI (diphenylmethane diisocyanate) at the Brunsbuttel site in Germany. An existing, idled plant for the precursor TDI (toluene diisocyanate) will be converted for production of MDI.
As per the plan, the production capacity at the site will be roughly doubled to a total of approximately 400,000 metric tonnes of MDI per year. Commissioning of the new plant complex is scheduled for late 2018. Preliminary plans call for a total investment volume (in Euros) in the low hundreds of millions, which is already included in Covestro’s medium-term capital expenditure budget.
MDI is the basis to produce rigid polyurethane foam, which is used primarily for the efficient insulation of buildings and throughout the cool chain. The resultant energy savings help to substantially reduce CO2 emissions. TDI, on the other hand, is a key component of flexible polyurethane foam, which is found in products including mattresses, upholstered furniture and automobile seats. The Dormagen site is Covestro’s European center for production of this precursor.
The Covestro Brunsbuttel Industrial Park is particularly well-suited for the MDI expansion because raw materials and other precursors are available there, and the site also offers the infrastructure required.
As per the plan, the production capacity at the site will be roughly doubled to a total of approximately 400,000 metric tonnes of MDI per year. Commissioning of the new plant complex is scheduled for late 2018. Preliminary plans call for a total investment volume (in Euros) in the low hundreds of millions, which is already included in Covestro’s medium-term capital expenditure budget.
MDI is the basis to produce rigid polyurethane foam, which is used primarily for the efficient insulation of buildings and throughout the cool chain. The resultant energy savings help to substantially reduce CO2 emissions. TDI, on the other hand, is a key component of flexible polyurethane foam, which is found in products including mattresses, upholstered furniture and automobile seats. The Dormagen site is Covestro’s European center for production of this precursor.
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“The planned MDI plant complex is a milestone in terms of energy efficiency, environmental compatibility and productivity, in addition to meeting the highest safety standards,” said Dr Steffen Kuhling, site and production manager in Brunsbuttel.
The Covestro Brunsbuttel Industrial Park is particularly well-suited for the MDI expansion because raw materials and other precursors are available there, and the site also offers the infrastructure required.