Bayer's Polycarbonates Line Starts up in Shanghai   

By Rowena Wang   

On November 15th, 2007 Bayer MaterialScience marked the inauguration of a 5 000 t/ar glass fiber reinforced polycarbonates line at the Bayer Integrated Site Shanghai (BISS). This is the company's first facility of its kind in the Asia Pacific region.
    "We see a growing demand for such polycarbonate compounds in China and in Asia Pacific, from industry sectors such as the electrical and electronic, and automotive sectors," noted Dr. Rainer Rettig, Head of Advanced Resins (APAC), Business Unit Polycarbonates at Bayer MaterialScience, "This new production line boosts our portfolio of polycarbonate grades produced here in the region, and will help us ensure we are able to quickly meet the needs of our customers - even for specific grades."
   Glass-fiber reinforced polycarbonate is an advanced plastic material currently used in car parts, mobile phones, electrical sockets, and many other applications.
    At BISS, Bayer MaterialScience already operates a 100 000 t/a polycarbonate production line, as well as four lines for compounding other grades of polycarbonate.
    In line with the company's growth strategy for its polycarbonate business, the company will double its capacity of Makrolon (R) polycarbonate capacity to 200 000 t/a. This expansion is expected to be completed in the second half of 2008.