Lubrizol expands TPU capacity in China

Lubrizol Corp. has expanded capacity at its plant in Songjiang, China, with the addition of a new thermoplastic polyurethane line.

The line is going into production this month, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in February, a news release said. This expansion follows a new compounding line launched in Asia last year. Both expansions were designed to support Lubrizol's engineered polymers business.Lubrizol has been growing capacity in its global TPU footprint.

In the release, Jane Cai, regional business director for Lubrizol Engineered Polymers, said the Asian market is a "critical region" for the company.

"We have seen strong opportunities and broad growth in Asia and Greater China in recent years, and our continued investment will enable further customization of materials to the specific needs of customers and markets," she said in the release.Gabe Rhoads, general manager for Lubrizol Engineered Polymers, said in the release that the company sees a strong growth outlook globally, not just in Asia.

"Market trends are well aligned with our innovation and material replacement strategies and we see growing demand for high-performance, customized materials and more sustainable solutions," Rhoads said in the release. "We continue to invest in capabilities and capacity to support our customers and markets, maintaining our position as a reliable, high-quality solutions provider."

The company has manufacturing facilities in 17 countries, and a number of expansions are underway globally.