Currently LANXESS is represented in China (including Hong Kong) with more than 830 employees. The headquarters are in Shanghai. The company also has sales, administration and logistics activities in Hong Kong. All 13 LANXESS business units are represented in China, six of them with their own production sites.

 

LANXESS sites in China:

Shanghai
In addition to the LANXESS China headquarters, the Technical Rubber Products (TRP) and Inorganic Pigments (IPG) business units are based in Shanghai with around 230 employees. The TRP business unit also operates a technology center here.

Wuxi
In Wuxi, the business unit Semi-Crystalline Products has a compounding facility for Durethan and Pocan. The business unit Leather has a line for leather chemicals here. In total 260 employees work in Wuxi. Apart from that, the largest and most modern research and development for leather chemicals in the Asia-Pacific Region was recently opened here. Since May 2007, SCP also has a state-of-the-art development center in Wuxi. At the beginning of 2008, LANXESS opened a microbiological test laboratory in Wuxi to strengthen its competitiveness in the field of biocides in Asia. The new facility for the Material Protection Products business unit (MPP) aims to support customers in the selection of suitable biocidal products and provide advice with technical matters and problems.

Qingdao
The LANXESS subsidiary Rhein Chemie (RCH) produces polymer-bound chemicals (Rhenogran) in Qingdao. After doubling its capacity in 2006, Rhein Chemie is now better able to meet the heavy increase in demand for polymer-bound chemicals in the Asia Region.

In addition, LANXESS is building a new plant in Qingdao for the production of lubricant additives. The new Rhein Chemie production facility will begin operations at the latest in Q4 2008, initially with 50 employees.

In July 2008 LANXESS opened a new Rubber Research Center (RRCQ) in Qingdao, Shandong Province. Established in close cooperation with Qingdao’s University of Science and Technology (QUST), the world-class research center is located within the university’s vicinity.

Tongling
In Tongling, the Rubber Chemicals business unit (RUC) has set up a joint venture for the manufacture of the rubber antioxidant Vulkanox. It has been supplying the fast-growing Chinese rubber market since August 2007.

Liyang

LANXESS (Liyang) Polyols Co, Ltd in Liyang, Jiangsu Province, mainly manufactures Trimethylolpropane (TMP), a product which is used in lubricants, paints and coatings. Further products are Di-TMP (Trimethylolpropane Dimer) and Calcium Formate (CaFo). The site is operated by LANXESS’s business unit Basic Chemicals, which is one of the leading manufacturers of raw materials for agrochemicals, polymers, surface coatings, and pigments.  

In 2009, LANXESS acquired these chemical businesses and production assets, belonging hitherto to China’s Jiangsu Polyols Chemical Co. Ltd. Commenting the acquisition, Axel C. Heitmann, Chairman of the LANXESS Board of Management, said: "This is a further milestone in our long-term growth strategy for BRIC countries. In addition, we are underlining our commitment to the important Chinese market.”