Bayer MaterialScience Is Committed to PC Market in China

By Lily Wang  

Bayer MaterialScience' Business Unit Polycarbonates is firmly
committed to its customers in China and the wider Asia Pacific
region. On May 22nd, at the Chinaplas 2007 exhibition in
Guangzhou, Bayer MaterialScience announced further steps of its
strategy aimed at improving its responsiveness to customer
needs.
   In line with this strategy, the company is already doubling
its capacity of its Makrolon (Ｒ) polycarbonate (PC) capacity
at its world-scale plant in Shanghai. In addition, it is
increasing its investment to expand its service and technical
network throughout Asia, offering advanced technologies and
services for applications and products in highly differentiated
markets.
   To support these fast growing polycarbonates markets, Bayer
MaterialScience has earmarked about 80 million Euro of
additional investment for enhancing its network through
specialized marketing representations in emerging hot spot
markets. These facilities will bundle well-proven capabilities
and expertise at central compounding facilities coupled with
Color Competence Centers and more. The first two of these kinds
of specialized marketing representations in Asia are planned for
Guangzhou in south China, and New Delhi, India. The two
facilities in Asia will be started construction at the end of
2007, and the feedstock needed in the Guangzhou site will be
supplied by Shanghai plant and Thailand.
   "We are determined to be the supplier of choice to our
customers," said Dr. Rainer Rettig, Head of the Advanced Resins
Division Asia-Pacific at Polycarbonates of Bayer
MaterialScience.  "We believe that our investment and efforts
will place us in an excellent position to benefit from the
dynamic growth in the PC demand in Asia, and particularly here
in China. At the same time, it is our utmost priority to deliver
fast, flexible and high-quality services to our customers along
the entire value-chain of our materials," he emphasized.
   At the ChinaPlas 2007 exhibition, Bayer MaterialScience
showcased a broad range of PC and PC-blend applications for
sectors including the automotive, IT and appliance, medical and
consumer industries, which highlighted its theme "Global
Partner, Local Presence".

Investments in innovative technologies

To cater to customer requirements for unique color and surface
attributes, small batch production and other technical
competencies, Bayer MaterialScience has invested in advanced
technologies already at its Polymer and Research Development
Center (PRDC), located in Shanghai. One example of such
technology is Aura ( r), which enables customers to achieve a
wide range of color varieties and special effects. Using the
Aura( r) color infusion technology, the coating penetrates into
the component offering best wear and performance. It is suited
for designing small batches with highly individual colors. The
Aura ( r) laboratory in PRDC can be used by customers for their
own pigmenting tests, with experts on hand to offer advice and
support.
   Across the region, Bayer MaterialScience aims to extend its
offer of innovative products and solutions to its customers. At
the PRDC, for example, the company works with state of the art
technology to develop new innovative solutions for customers to
address the fast-changing market needs.    
   "Our color specialists go beyond helping our clients develop
new colors and effects. In addition, they also develop new
pigmenting technologies with our customers. Our investments
ensure that we can offer comprehensive technical equipment -
such as a color measuring laboratory equipped with various
spectrophotometers and a light chamber - as well as an extensive
archive of color samples," explained Dr. Hartmut Loewer, Head
of Global Innovations for the Business Unit Polycarbonates at
Bayer MaterialScience.

Makrolon(Ｒ) capacity on track to double in Shanghai

At the Bayer Integrated Site in Shanghai, construction is
well-underway to double the existing capacity of Makrolon(Ｒ)
PC to 200 000 t/a by 2008. When completed, the company will
further extend its leadership as the largest polycarbonate
producer both in China and globally.
   At the same time, a new glass fiber PC line is being added
at the adjacent PC compounding facility at the integrated site.
The new line adds glass fiber to Makrolon(Ｒ) to improve the
impact and break-resistance necessary for applications in the
electrical and consumer industries. This line is expected to be
completed later 2007.

Exhibits highlight innovation commitment

One highlight of Bayer MaterialScience's presence at ChinaPlas
2007 was the display of an innovative concept car featuring a
myriad of plastics and polymer materials. The futuristic design
of the concept car demonstrated the versatility of such
materials in terms of design freedom, functionality and
durability.