As companies look at sustainable innovations to strengthen their competitive advantage and address consumer expectations, Emery Oleochemicals, one of the world’s leading natural-based chemicals producers, recently opened a new Technical Development Centre (TDC), bringing to market highly specialised renewable polymer processing aids. Based in Loxstedt, Germany, the TDC will serve as the company’s Global Centre of Excellence for its Green Polymer Additives business.

“We are very excited to open our new Technical Development Centre to address the polymer additives growing market demand,” commented group chief executive officer Dr. Kongkrapan Intarajang. “This investment is aligned with our growth plan in providing differentiated, customisable solutions for our customers. It encompasses our focus in research and technological advancements as to support and enhance service in Europe and the rest of the world.” The TDC is part of a total Investment valued at an estimated €20 million (US$25million) which include manufacturing facility expansions in Loxstedt. Employing approximately 20 researchers specialising in various areas, the TDC has dedicated labs for Product Development, Application Testing and Quality Control. In addition, training and co-research infrastructure capacities will further encourage product innovations suited for high growth industries such as packaging, construction, automotive and various high-valued applications in plastics and coating. “Our goal with our Loxstedt projects is to continue innovating with solutions that are cutting-edge,” explains Mr. Azuddin Rahman, Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer. “Once complete, our expanded manufacturing facility will offer dust free products with improved flowabity, making us the only plastic additives producer to be able to do so. This will help our customers reduce overall processing and handling time.”

Aiming to bring its specialty business closer to the high-growth marketplace, Emery Oleochemicals looks to leverage its pipeline of renewable resources, global operations, market insights and oleobasics capabilities to strengthen its market presence. This includes a production capacity expansion in Loxstedt and the building of a new Green Polymer Additives plant in Malaysia, which is now fully operational. The TDC launch coincides with Emery Oleochemicals’ plan to showcase the company’s latest innovations from its LOXIOL®, EDENOL® and EMEROX® renewable-based product suite at K Show 2013, in Düsseldorf, Germany. Billed as the world’s biggest trade fair for plastics and rubber, the show will be held from 16-23 October, with the company exhibiting at Hall 8B, Booth A62. This will be the company’s third time in participating at the show.