Bayer Now World's Biggest Supplier of Polyurethane Raw Materials
The acquisition by Bayer of the polyols business of Lyondell Chemical was closed on March 31, 2000.
PITTSBURGH — The acquisition by Bayer Corp. of the polyols business of Lyondell Chemical Co., Houston, was closed on March 31, 2000, making Bayer the world’s biggest supplier of polyurethane raw materials. At the same time, Bayer has secured a lasting, cost-efficient supply of propylene oxide, a pre-product in the manufacture of polyols. The $2.45-billion investment represents a long-term strengthening of the group’s core polyurethanes business, as Bayer and Lyondell are also committed to future cooperation in the technology field and in the construction of new manufacturing facilities for propylene oxide.
Worldwide demand for polyurethanes is growing constantly due to their multitude of applications, from solid engineering materials to foams with a broad variety of characteristics. They are widely used in the electrical and electronics industries, thermal insulation, construction of technical parts, the furniture industry, and the manufacture of sports and leisure equipment. Production of polyurethanes requires two components — MDI or TDI, in which Bayer is already a world leader, and polyol.