Page 156 - CW E-Magazine (1-10-2024)

News from Abroad

EXPANSION
Lubrizol raises dispersant capacity in US

US-based speciality chemicals
firm, Lubrizol, is expanding opera-
tions at its Avon Lake, Ohio (USA),
manufacturing facility to double the
production capacity of Solsperse
branded hyperdispersants, commonly
used by coating and ink formulators
for better pigment dispersant perfor-
mance, and for a variety of other
applications.

The dispersant technology com- Solsperse hyperdispersants over the Lubrizol’s ongoing commitment to
bines polymeric stabilising chains last decade, increasing the number the coatings market in North America,
with anchor groups optimised for the of products that can be sourced from while also helping ensure products
production of sterically stabilised dis- the plant. This latest investment will manufactured in other regions are
persions with high solids content, low enable Lubrizol to support its global readily available to customers in
viscosity, and excellent viscosity and growth trajectory for dispersants and those regions. Earlier this year, the
particle size stability. enable additional capacity expansion company announced an investment to
opportunities in the future, some increase capacity of its acrylic emul-
First produced at the facility in already planned for 2025. sion technologies in Gastonia, North
2014, Lubrizol has steadily expanded Carolina (US), as part of its growth
the manufacturing capacity of This investment demonstrates strategy.

CATERING TO AUTOMOTIVES
Neo opens upgraded emissions control catalysts

facility in China

Neo Performance Materials, the continue to service global
Canadian producer of rare earths and automotive supply chains to
speciality chemicals, has opened an meet more stringent emissions
emissions control catalysts plant in requirements across hybrid
Zibo, China. The plant will produce vehicle and internal combustion
a rare earth oxide coatings that can engine platforms. This invest-
be applied to catalytic converters in ment enables NAMCO to meet
internal combustion engine vehicles. increased customer demand
and maintain Neo’s position
The company said the relocated, as one of the top three global
upgraded and modernised NAMCO producers of rare earth com-
(Neo Jia Hua Advanced Materials pounds for environmental and
(Zibo) Co. Ltd.) facility has started automotive emissions control
receiving customer approvals, and is expanded capacity, improved operating catalysts,” said Mr. Rahim Suleman,
expected to achieve full production efficiencies, and advanced processing President and CEO of Neo.
by the end of 2024. technology, the company informed.
As of June 2024, the company
The modernisation of the prior “The relocation and moderni- has invested $46.4-mn in NAMCO’s
catalyst plant in Zibo will result in sation of NAMCO enables Neo to relocation, upgrade, and modernisation.

156 Chemical Weekly October 1, 2024

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