Huntsman has announced it will expand capacity at its Osnabruck, Germany TPU facility by investing in a new line to produce specialist high performance TPU grades

The new production line is expected to come on stream during the second half of 2008. Huntsman are expanding capacity due to increasing customer demand especially in Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East and this investment fits neatly into the global growth strategy commented Ron Gerrard, Vice President of Global Operations for the Huntsman polyurethanes business.

TPUs, which combine the advantages of rubber polymers with those of thermoplastics, are increasingly displacing more traditional materials in a variety of end-use markets and this new line strengthens the ability to meet this opportunity.

Huntsman TPUs are made at Osnabruck and at Ringwood, Illinois (USA) and sold under the Irogran, Irodur, Irostic, Irocoat, Krystalflex and Krystalguard TPU trade names: they are injected or extruded to produce a wide range of products such as footwear, wire and cable encapsulations, hose, tubing, films and sheet.

They are also used to produce coated and laminated textiles, protective/functional coatings and adhesives.

Huntsman is a global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated chemicals.

Its operating companies manufacture products for a variety of global industries, including chemicals, plastics, automotive, aviation, textiles, footwear, paints and coatings, construction, technology, agriculture, health care, detergent, personal care, furniture, appliances and packaging.

Originally known for pioneering innovations in packaging and, later, for rapid and integrated growth in petrochemicals, Huntsman today has 13,000 employees and operates from multiple locations worldwide.