Bayer MaterialScience to build a world-scale plant for polymer polyols in Antwerp

Total investment of around EUR 40 million / Commissioning scheduled for late 2008 / Efficient production process delivers optimized products


Leverkusen, September 26, 2007 – Bayer MaterialScience is planning to build a world-scale plant for the manufacture of polymer-filled polyether polyols (PMPO) at the Antwerp site in Belgium. The plant, representing a total investment of EUR 40 million, will have an annual capacity of 60,000 tons and is scheduled for commissioning in late 2008. Bayer MaterialScience already manufactures polyether polyols, one of the starting materials for polymer polyols, at the Antwerp site. The decision to build the new plant in Antwerp enables leverage of available synergies and will further increase the efficiency of PMPO production.

The planned facility will utilize a new process developed by Bayer MaterialScience in close cooperation with Bayer Technology Services GmbH. This innovative and patented PMPO technology delivers products that are considerably superior to those manufactured using conventional processes and has already been successfully tested on a multi-ton scale.

The end products yielded by the new process contain very low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that were impossible to achieve with the technologies used to date. In addition to improved product properties, Bayer MaterialScience expects a reduction of 25 percent in plant construction costs and in the energy consumption of the completed facility once operational.

According to Peter Vanacker, Head of the Polyurethanes Business Unit and a member of the Bayer MaterialScience Executive Committee: “The new technology represents a significant advance in the development of state-of-the-art production processes with even greater efficiency. It allows innovative energy management and sets new standards for efficient and resource-saving production processes. This enables us to offer our customers top-quality products with lower VOC contents and further consolidate our leading role in the world market for polyurethanes with optimized cost structures.”

PMPOs are utilized throughout the world, primarily for the production of flexible polyurethane foam, which is used in large quantities in upholstered furniture, mattresses and car seats.