AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - AkzoNobel is investing EUR 140 million to convert its chlorine plant in Frankfurt, Germany, to state-of-the-art membrane electrolysis technology. The new facility, which will increase current capacity by around 50 percent, will help to reinforce the company's leadership positions in Europe's caustic lye and chloromethanes markets, while the total eco-footprint per ton of product will be improved by nearly 30 percent.

Due to come on stream in the fourth quarter of 2013, the Frankfurt operations will apply the latest membrane technology and enable the business to increase annual production of chlorine at the location to an expected 250 kilotons, up from 165 kilotons today.

 

AkzoNobel Industrial Chemicals operates three chlorine plants in Germany (Frankfurt, Bitterfeld and Ibbenbueren) and two in the Netherlands (Rotterdam and Delfzijl). In 2010, these five facilities exceeded one million tons in total production.