Bangkok -- PTT Global Chemical has revealed plans to transform Vencorex’s French production base following the European Commission’s approval of its buyout from Perstorp.

The transformation involves a move away from TDI (toluene diisocyanate) to HDI (hexamethylene diisocyanate) production in France.

As reported at UTECH-polyurethane.com at the end of July, PTT was given the go-ahead to buy the 49% of Vencorex it did not already own from its joint venture partner Perstorp after the commission agreed the deal raised no competition concerns.

A PTT management discussion report - made public on 6 August, 2014 - outlined the company's Q2 performance and revealed its strategy for the Vencorex TDI production unit in France.

According to the report, PTT aims to transform the TDI unit into a production unit for HDI due to its “higher value and benefits.”

HDI will be the “higher value product from 2016 onward” the report said.

Vencorex will continue its R&D work on TDI while PTT uses the isocyanate production technologies it now has full ownership of to penetrate Asia’s isocyanate market.

The restructure is aligned with PTT’s strategy “to develop TDI technology and manufacturing processes in Asia,” the report said - a PTT intention UTECH-polyurethane.com reported in February, 2014.