LEVERKUSEN, Germany - Bayer MaterialScience has begun construction of a multipurpose production plant for polyurethane coating raw materials at Chempark Leverkusen, Germany. The products hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) are used primarily for high-quality and environmentally friendly automotive and industrial coatings. The company is investing roughly EUR 35 million in the expansion of its production capacities, thus strengthening the site and securing jobs at the same time. The plant is scheduled to come on stream in the fall of 2013. 

The new multipurpose plant will be integrated into existing HDI and IPDI production at the Leverkusen site and uses modern and innovative process technologies for the efficient production of both raw materials. This will enable the company to supply its customers even more flexibly and quickly than before. 

One important area of application for both raw materials is high-quality polyurethane coatings for automotive finishing. Given the increase in demand for individual transportation worldwide, there is a demand for high-performance and durable coatings that are also environmentally friendly. Bayer MaterialScience has developed innovative products for this application based on HDI and IPDI, which also enable the formulation of low-solvent coatings. The two raw materials are also used in industrial coatings, textile coatings and adhesives.