LBI adds capacity at 'world’s largest' PP compounding unit

Dutch chemicals company LyondellBasell Industries NV (LBI) has started up the fifth polypropylene compounding line at its Knapsack production site in Germany, which is now claimed by the company to be the world’s largest PP compounding facility.
 
The recently started up 25-kilotonne-per-annum (ktpa) line has raised total production capacity at the site to over 200 ktpa, LBI said in a statement Sept. 23.
 
Moreover, the number of employees at the site expanded from 160 to 172 as a result of the installation of the new line. 
 
“Our polypropylene materials are helping to increase fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions by aiding in the light weighting of automobiles,” said Frank Noeltgen, senior director advanced polymer solutions (APS) business Europe. 
 
In addition, the trend towards electric vehicles, where components are needed for battery packs and under-the-hood applications, is expected to support the growing demand for the material, Noeltgen added.
 
LyondellBasell is a leading supplier of lightweight polymers and visually appealing materials for automotive and electrical applications to OEMs and Tier 1 customers.
 
The company’s PP products are claimed to meet the requirements of the European Commission, helping automotive companies significantly reduce CO2 emissions in vehicles.
 
The  products offer “a high-quality finish, scratch performance, and high ultraviolet resistance,” the Dutch chemicals company added.
 
Audi’s new Q5 model, for instance, is currently using LBI's Hifax product series for a spoiler component in its front bumper.
 
The expansion of the Knapsack plant is the latest in a series of debottlenecking projects at LyondellBasell’s PP compounding units in Europe.
 
LyondellBasell also has polypropylene compounding facilities in Milton Keynes and Warrington, the UK; Kerpen and Bayreuth, Germany; Tarragona, Spain; Dungguan, China; Senai Malaysia; Sumare, Brazil; San Luis Potosi, Mexico; and Evansville, Indiana, the US.