Clariant to invest in additional China FR facility

Clariant will create a second production line at its new CHF 60 million state of the art facility for Exolit OP halogen-free flame retardants currently under construction in Daya Bay, China. This additional CHF 40 million investment will further expand access to innovative and sustainable fire protection solutions and related technical expertise to support the significant growth of engineering plastics applications in E-mobility and electrical & electronic segments.

“Brands and equipment manufacturers are increasingly switching to non-halogenated flame retardants to meet rising electrification needs and sustainability claims. And we see this in the rapidly growing demand for our Exolit OP flame retardants in China and other Asian markets. Offering local production and the support of technical experts at Daya Bay, alongside the development capabilities at the One Clariant Campus laboratories in Shanghai, will enable us to respond faster to local, regional and global supply needs and also work more closely with our customers to fulfill increasing safety regulations and technical performance requirements in E-mobility, 5G communications, transportation and beyond,” comments Jochen Ahrens, Clariant’s head of flame retardants business.

The new Daya Bay flame retardant plant will supplement the capacity of Clariant’s two Exolit OP plants in Knapsack, Germany and is beneficial to the global customer base. Despite the external challenges of COVID, logistical and supply chain issues, Clariant is still targeting its original timeline, i.e. commencing production in Daya Bay around mid-2023, with the second line due to come on stream within 2024.

Clariant will produce its global range of patent-protected organophosphorus flame retardants on site. The team at the Shanghai One Clariant Campus will support customers in the joint development and in-application testing of flame retarded solutions.

Having closer proximity to component and parts manufacturers is part of a wider commitment to product innovation and addressing sustainability challenges through value chain collaborations. Some Exolit OP products support a Circular Economy for plastics, considering their favorable properties for recycling.

Both new flame retardant production lines will share infrastructure and built-up capabilities in place at Clariant’s Daya Bay site. Local resources are being used for the facility, with a high focus on safety. All 500,000-man hours worked since construction began have been accident free.