Lanxess Qingdao Base Expands Production and Upgrades!

On November 12, the German specialty chemicals company LANXESS expanded and upgraded its Rhein Chemie production base in Qingdao to meet the growing market demand for locally manufactured rubber additives.

The project will increase the production capacity of processing additives and pre-dispersed masterbatch lines by 50%, while also upgrading the technology concurrently. The V4 production line processes additives, such as Rhein Saan® and Rhein Plastifin®. The V8 production line mainly produces pre-dispersed masterbatch products, including Rhein Energy® and Rhein Power®.

The Qingdao base was established in 1995 and has played a key role in the development of China's modern tire and rubber industry. Over its 30-year development history, the base has launched pre-dispersed chemicals, processing aids, and release agents, gaining recognition for its innovation, safety, and sustainable development performance. In 2021, the environmentally friendly rubber waste recycling solution developed by LANXESS's Qingdao plant was recognized as a "Key Project of Enterprise Technological Innovation in Qingdao."

RheinSol® and RheinFlex® are processing aids that belong to the category of specialty additives and play a key role in the production of tires and industrial rubber products. Their core function is to improve rubber mixing, processing, molding, and vulcanization processes. By optimizing these stages, they help manufacturers enhance production efficiency, increase product consistency, and improve product quality. These additives are compatible with various rubber formulations and are essential products to meet the stringent requirements of the automotive and industrial rubber products industries.

Pre-dispersed chemicals, represented by products such as Rhein Chemie® and Rheinforce®, are the cornerstone of modern rubber processing technology. These products are combinations of chemicals and polymers that can quickly and uniformly disperse in the customer's compound, thereby simplifying the operational processes during production. The use of pre-dispersed chemicals not only enhances the safety, efficiency, and consistency of rubber manufacturing but also allows for precise formulation adjustments to meet specific performance requirements.