AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals started design work for a second expansion of chloromethanes capacity at its site in Frankfurt, Germany. The project will take place in several steps over the next five years and will raise total capacity by up to 50 percent, supporting growth of customers that use chloromethanes in the manufacture of products such as pharmaceuticals.
 
The company recently completed an initial chloromethanes expansion that increased capacity for the chloromethanes methylene chloride, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride. The new expansion phase will begin with an increase in capacity for methyl chloride, to be completed in 2020. Further investments are also planned to improve supply reliability and to expand chlorine production, the key raw material for chloromethanes.
 
"Our continued investments in both chlorine and chloromethanes production will increase reliability of supplies across the entire value chain to support the growth plans of our customers, while increasing energy efficiency thanks to the use of the latest technology,” said Knut Schwalenberg, executive committee member responsible for Industrial Chemicals.
 
Chloromethanes are used as intermediates in the production of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, refrigerants, silicone polymers, and fluoropolymers, and are important raw materials for the construction and automotive industries, water treatment, cookware, and electronics. AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals has a leading position in the European chloromethanes market.
 
"We see strong growth in demand for chloromethanes and derived products from customers in emerging markets, such as India, for the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and construction materials," AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals CEO Werner Fuhrmann said. "We are well positioned to capture part of this growth by investing in additional capacity in Frankfurt. In addition, the improved energy efficiency will provide significant sustainability benefits for our company."