Styrenics producer Styrolution GmbH is reorganizing some of its facilities in Germany in order to optimize production. The changes affect styrenic specialty resins made at its sites in Cologne, Ludwigshafen and Schwarzheide.
Styrolution will now offer Novodur ABS copolymer grades from all three sites, while Luran S materials (ASA and ASA/PC) are now available from both Ludwigshafen and Schwarzheide.
The company will expand compounding capacity in Schwarzheide to enable insourcing of specialty ABS and Novodur GF previously produced by external partners.
It said the Schwarzheide site will become an increasingly important hub for Styrolution in the EMEA region with the production of compounded specialty styrenic products, such as Novodur GF, Terblend N and S (ABS/PA and ASA/PA), Zylar (SMMA), and anti-static polystyrene.
Styrolution said it plans to complete the majority of this project by the end of 2013.
At its Ludwigshafen site, the company has opened a logistics center for its AMSAN and SAN specialties plants. The center has automated packaging and storage facilities that improve Styrolution's ability to supply customers packaged or bulk goods in an efficient and timely manner, it said.
Kevin Macquade, president of the EMEA region, spoke to European Plastics News about the changes at K 2013 in October. Explaining the background, he pointed to the production set-up that Styrolution faced when the company was formed as a joint venture between BASF and Ineos in 2011.
“This is an outgrowth of Styrolution coming together,” said Macquade. “The heritage companies were making products at different plants. But we have been able to take a complete view [of the production sites].”
Macquade was previously president of Styrolution's Americas business. “I came to the EMEA region in March to put a focus on specialty styrenics and move that agenda forward,” he said.
He said the changes in German facilities are part of Styrolution's ‘Triple Shift' growth strategy, which it launched in August, with the aim of strengthening its leading position in styrenics globally. This involves focusing on five core markets where Styrolution can bring innovation, he said: automotive, construction, healthcare, household goods and electronics.
“We feel there is a lot of innovation potential in styrenics,” said Macquade.
The strategy involves building demand for the use of styrenic materials in new applications, he said.
Other developments resulting from Styrolution's strategy include previous announcements: a planned joint venture with Braskem to produce ABS Standard and ABS specialties in South America, and new AMSAN specialty production at Styrolution's plant in Altamira, Mexico.