LANXESS Butyl Pte. Ltd has awarded a subsidiary of Foster Wheeler AG’s Global Engineering and Construction Group with an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCm) contract for a new neodymium polybutadiene (Nd-PBR) rubber plant to be built in Jurong Island, Singapore. This award follows Foster Wheeler’s successful completion of a front-end engineering design for this project earlier this year.
The new facility will be designed to produce 140,000 ton of Nd-PBR per year and will include process and finishing buildings, a central control room, a substation and a tank farm. It will be built alongside LANXESS’ 100,000 ton-per-annum synthetic butyl rubber plant, the largest facility of its type in Asia, due to start up in 2013.
“We have built an excellent working relationship with LANXESS and we are looking forward to further developing a long-term business relationship based on our performance in delivering LANXESS’ projects safely and successfully,” said Chief Operating Officer, Foster Wheeler AG, Umberto della Sala.
Nd-PBR is used in tire manufacturing. LANXESS says that its use reduces rolling resistance and increases vehicle energy efficiency compared with conventional tire rubber, which also reduces tire abrasion, playing a significant role in making cars safer, greener and more economical.
“We are pleased to strengthen the successful relationship with Foster Wheeler in order to continue to jointly and safely implement the LANXESS growth strategy in the Asia Pacific region,” said project director of LANXESS Asia Pacific, Carsten Kopke.
