'Biggest investment ever' creates 160 jobs

A new butyl rubber plant has opened in Singapore, creating 160 new jobs.

The plant, built by LANXESS, cost 400 million euros, and is the company’s biggest investment ever. It is also said to have a capacity of 100,000 metric tonnes a year.

The plant was inaugurated on Jurong Island in Singapore in a ceremony attended by 400 guests. LANXESS claims the facility is the most modern of its kind in Asia and it will produce premium halobutyl rubber, as well as regular butyl rubber.

“This is the largest investment in the company’s history, and underlines the important of Asia as a location for our synthetic rubber business,” said Axel C. Heitmann, LANXESS’ Chairman of the board.

“We have clearly built this plant with the future of mobility in mind because we think and act long-term.”

LANXESS say around 10 percent of the total investment has gone toward technologies that make the butyl rubber plant more environmentally friendly. For example, less steam is used in the manufacturing process compared to other facilities.

The facility has been built to accommodate for the growing butyl rubber market, which is expected to grow on average by 5 percent in the coming years, with passenger cars in China and India to more then triple in the next 15 years.

Modern tyres require a halobutyl rubber lining, which helps keep tyre pressure constant, therefore reportedly saving fuel and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

“With our high-tech products, we are a leader in enabling ‘green mobility’,” said Heitmann.