The Board of Directors of MAGNIFIN Magnesiaprodukte endorsed a detailed engineering study for a second MAGNIFIN Magnesiaprodukte production site. This is being done in an effort to meeting growing global demand and support the growth of its customers for high-purity, non-halogenated magnesium hydroxide fire retardants.

The new plant would manufacture the same high-quality product portfolio currently being manufactured at MAGNIFIN Magnesiaprodukte in Breitenau, Austria. This expansion project will further enhance the company’s ability to deliver premium magnesium hydroxides (MAGNIFIN) and provides additional supply chain flexibility for its customers.

MAGNIFIN Magnesiaprodukte GmbH & Co KG is a 50/50 joint venture between Martinswerk GmbH, part of the Fire Retardant Additives (FRA) business of the Huber Engineered Materials division (HEM) of J.M. Huber Corporation (Huber) and Veitscher Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH, part of the group of companies of RHI Magnesita N.V. (RHIM).

MAGNIFIN coated and uncoated magnesium hydroxides are environment friendly, non-halogenated flame retardants used in a wide range of polymer applications, especially thermoplastic materials and elastomers requiring high processing temperatures in excess of 200°C. Typical applications include energy & LAN data cables, automotive wire & cable, engineering thermoplastics (e.g. connectors) and construction foils.

“The success story of the MAGNIFIN Magnesiaprodukte joint venture, which began 29 years ago, will be taken to the next level after expansion completion. We are looking forward to expanding MAGNIFIN Magnesiaprodukte’s capacity and offering our customers a second production site, which would provide even higher levels of security of supply and supply chain flexibility. The new MAGNIFIN Magnesiaprodukte plant would benefit from the combined strength of RHI Magnesita and Huber, who bring in extensive expertise in plant engineering, operations and sales & marketing of halogen-free flame retardants,” said Dr. Gerd Schubert, COO of RHI Magnesita, and Dan Krawczyk, president of HEM.

“This step forward demonstrates our commitment towards our customers to support their growth and our clear strategy to grow our halogen-free fire retardant business for MAGNIFIN Magnesiaprodukte globally," added Jerry Bertram, VP and GM of Huber’s FRA business.

MAGNIFIN and MARTINAL (fine precipitated alumina hydrate, produced by HuberIMartinswerk in Bergheim, Germany) are complementary halogen-free flame retardants, exclusively sold by Huber|Martinswerk.