LANXESS intensifies its blow-molding activities 

·	Global team for blow-molding applications founded
·	Investment in blow-molding system completed
·	Expanded technical customer support
·	Customer- and application-specific material optimization

Cologne – The specialty chemicals company LANXESS envisages an extensive range of potential applications for blow-molded components made from technical plastics in automobiles. On the one hand, the global trend toward more turbocharged combustion engines that are both efficient and climate-friendly is continuing. This is leading to increased demand for air management components, especially blow-molded charge air pipes, with Asia in particular being a major growth market because the market share of turbocharged engines here is still comparatively low. On the other hand, the number of natural-gas-powered vehicles is increasing all the time, and fuel cell technology is being heralded as a new growth technology. Blow-molded polyamide liners are already used in compressed natural gas and are also best choice for hydrogen tanks. 

Processing expertise to support the customer

These trends motivated the High Performance Materials (HPM) business unit at LANXESS not only to set up a global team tasked with developing blow-molding materials and their applications in modern powertrains, but also commissioning a state-of-the-art blow-molding system at the technical center in Dormagen. “Having our own processing equipment ensures that our blow-molding product types possess excellent processing properties,” said Dr. Klaus Küsters, who is responsible for developing the blow-molding business field at HPM. “Our customers benefit directly from in-depth processing expertise. The new system will also allow us to offer targeted assistance, for example during troubleshooting or at the start of series production.” 

Process development on close-to-production tools 

The new system is a KBS20-SB extrusion blow-molding machine from Bonn-based Kautex Maschinenbau GmbH. The company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of such machines. This new system means that LANXESS now also has two tools for manufacturing close-to-production components in the focus application fields. One tool is designed especially for air ducts such as charge air ducts or clean air ducts in combustion engines. Within a suction blow-molding process it can be used to manufacture complex pipes with varying diameters and oval cross-sections up to 630 millimeters in length. Clean air ducts with integrated bellows can also be manufactured. The second tool is designed mainly for blow-molded liners for high-pressure tanks in hydrogen- and natural-gas-powered vehicles. It also features a flat cavity area from which test specimens for calculating material characteristic values can be generated. “The resulting process-related material data give a very precise and representative material description and help our customers in application development,” said Küsters.

HiAnt – comprehensive customer service 

LANXESS is also expanding its expertise in the field of virtual design methods. Thanks to simulations of blow-molding processes, HPM will be able to help its customers to design their processes with a view to increasing efficiency. As part of an international consortium, HPM will also promote the development of simulation software for suction blow-molding.

All this means that HPM can offer a comprehensive package of blow-molding services – totally in keeping with the HiAnt philosophy. Under this brand, the business unit has combined its expertise in material, application, procedural and technological development so that it can support customers at all stages of component development. The service encompasses everything from concept design, material optimization and the calculation of component characteristics by means of simulation tools right through to processing, component testing and the start of series production. 

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 7.2 billion in 2018. The company currently has about 15,500 employees in 33 countries and is represented at 60 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of chemical intermediates, additives, specialty chemicals and plastics. LANXESS is listed in the leading sustainability indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World and Europe) and FTSE4Good.

Cologne, 	July 2, 2019
mfg/rei		(2019-00048e)

Forward-Looking Statements
This company release contains certain forward-looking statements, including assumptions, opinions, expectations and views of the company or cited from third party sources. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause the actual results, financial position, development or performance of LANXESS AG to differ materially from the estimations expressed or implied herein. LANXESS AG does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does it accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the opinions expressed in this presentation or the actual occurrence of the forecast developments. No representation or warranty (expressed or implied) is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, any information, estimates, targets and opinions, contained herein, and no liability whatsoever is accepted as to any errors, omissions or misstatements contained herein, and accordingly, no representative of LANXESS AG or any of its affiliated companies or any of such person's officers, directors or employees accept any liability whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from the use of this document.

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