lnvista introduced its Terate HT polyols to the Asian market for the first time at the UTECH Asia/PU China 2011 show. Bill Trowell, global business director for Terate polyols,said Asia is certainly a growing market,adding: "We've been moving material to Asia for a number of years.
"Of course as lnvista,we have a lot of plants here,in fibres, Lycra and Nylon, butanediol and intermediates," added Trowell .
"This allows us to leverage and utilise other functions and capabilities: sourcing, supply and distribution, compliance and government relations," he added.
Invista says its Terate HT polyols can help users cut the loading of flame retardant needed in PU and polyisocyanurate rigid foams. They can also be used as a partial replacement of traditional polyether polyols with minor formulation adjustments.
Applications include spray foam (both cavity wall and roofing), insulated appliances, insulated metal panels (walk-in coolers, wall and roof assemblies), coatings, adhesives and sealants.
Trowell said the HT product arose after Invista challenged its scientists to "develop a very robust performing polyol," and added that it is actively working on another product also.
Trowell commented that on the first morning of the show, he could hardly walk down the aisles for the crowds at UTECH Asia/PU China.
Wolff noted BMS's basic principle is to have regional assets to serve local markets. In general "we don't ship products around the world, except maybe some specialities."
Work continues on BMS's plans to raise its MDI capacity in China to one million tonnes, with Bayer applying for government approvals. The BMS team said they do not feel the process here is any different for foreign and Chinese companies.
In the context of China's potential demand for non-combustible construction insulation, which would eliminate use of PU rigid foam, Wolff said that BMS "considered many scenarios" with its MDI expansion - including a possible worldwide ban on PU insulation use in construct ion. Wolff said even in that case, "we said the MDI investment will still be worthwhile," as all other uses are growing.
