Huntsman and Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical Co. Ltd. (SCAC) recently announced plans to double the diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) splitting capacity of their joint venture company, Huntsman Polyurethanes Shanghai Ltd. Co. (HPS), at the Shanghai Chemical Industrial Park (SCIP) in Caojing. With the new plant, MDI splitting capacity at the site will reportedly increase from 240,000 to 480,000 metric tons per year. Commercial operation is planned to start in 2017. The facility will take MDI precursors and split them to create more differentiated, custom-made products for downstream markets.

“We’ve seen an upsurge in demand from Asian customers for higher quality, differentiated products, and the new splitter will help us to meet these needs—providing our customers with a full range of next-generation solutions for the insulation, automotive, bedding, furniture, adhesives, coatings, elastomers, and footwear markets,” said Tony Hankins, president of the Polyurethanes division.

Huntsman owns 70% of HPSs’ shares, while SCAC owns 30%.

For more information, visit www.huntsman.com.