COLOGNE, Germany – Specialty chemicals company LANXESS is expanding its production capacity for the industrial chemical benzyl alcohol for the global market by around 30%. The two-stage expansion of the plant at the German site in Krefeld-Uerdingen, Germany, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2019. In addition, the Advanced Industrial Intermediates (AII) business unit has expansion plans for its site Nagda, India. Several process improvements have already led to an increase in benzyl alcohol capacity there in recent years.

"With our two sites in Germany and India and the planned expansions, we are well positioned to meet the growing demand from our customers," said Michael Ertl, Head of the Benzyl Products & Inorganic Acids business line at AII. "We are well equipped to serve both global groups with locations around the world and small and medium-sized companies worldwide," said Ertl.

Benzyl alcohol from LANXESS is used in a variety of different applications, for example as a solvent for coatings, color pastes and construction chemicals.