ATLANTA — The Board of Directors of MAGNIFIN Magnesiaprodukte approved the preparatory work for the construction of a second MAGNIFIN Magnesiaprodukte production site. The decision is based on the successfully completed feasibility study and is the next step towards the board’s potential final approval to construct the second site.

This planned investment is being implemented to meet growing global demand and to support the growth of its customers for high-purity, halogen-free magnesium hydroxide fire retardants.

The new plant would manufacture the same product portfolio currently being manufactured at MAGNIFIN Magnesiaprodukte in Breitenau, Austria.  This expansion project would further enhance the company’s ability to deliver premium magnesium hydroxides (MAGNIFIN^®) and would provide additional supply chain flexibility for its customers.

MAGNIFIN Magnesiaprodukte GmbH & Co KG is a 50/50 joint venture between Martinswerk GmbH, part of the Fire Retardant Additives (FRA) business of the Huber Engineered Materials (HEM) division of J.M. Huber Corp., and Veitscher Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH, part of the group of companies of RHI Magnesita N.V. (RHIM).

MAGNIFIN coated and uncoated magnesium hydroxides are environment-friendly, non-halogenated flame retardants used in a wide range of polymer applications, especially thermoplastic materials and elastomers requiring high processing temperatures in excess of 200 °C. Typical applications include energy and LAN data cables, automotive wire and cable, engineering thermoplastics (e.g. connectors), and construction foils.

“The success story of the MAGNIFIN Magnesiaprodukte joint venture, which began 30 years ago, will be taken to the next level after expansion completion. We are looking forward to expanding MAGNIFIN Magnesiaprodukte’s capacity and offering our customers a second production site, providing increased security of supply and supply chain flexibility. The new MAGNIFIN Magnesiaprodukte plant would benefit from the combined strength of RHI Magnesita and Huber, who bring in extensive expertise in plant engineering, operations and sales and marketing of halogen-free flame retardants,” said the Board of Directors in a joint statement.

MAGNIFIN magnesium hydroxide and MARTINAL® fine precipitated alumina hydrate are complementary halogen-free flame retardants, exclusively sold by Huber | Martinswerk and manufactured in Bergheim, Germany.