Ciba moves to raise antioxidant production in China

By Patrick Raleigh, UT On-line/news editorBasel, Switzerland- Ciba Specialty Chemicals is to increase the capacity of its plastics and rubber antioxidants facility in Shanghai, China, by 10 kilotonnes per annum. The expansion will include investment in new plant and the transfer of production from Ciba's Kaohsiung site in Taiwan, according to a group spokeswoman. The production, she said, involves Ciba's Irganox range, which includes its hindered phenolic anti-scorch additives for polyurethane foams.Production of granular and liquid forms of Ciba's plastics and rubber antioxidants, as well as blends, will be expanded both in Kaohsiung and Shanghai, a 23 March Ciba statement added. Ciba said the moves will lead to "greater economy of scale and backwards integration into key raw materials," and enable it to better serve polymer industry customers in the Asia Pacific region.The investments "demonstrate our commitment to Asia and represent a further significant step in Ciba's growth strategy," said Armin Meyer, chairman and CEO of Ciba Specialty Chemicals."