Nouryon acquires Chinese triethyl aluminium business

NOURYON has acquired Zhejiang Friend Chemical (Friend), the largest Chinese producer of triethyl aluminium (TEAL).

TEAL is a metal alkyl used to produce high-volume polymers such as polypropylene and polyethylene. The acquisition includes products, technology, customer lists, and a manufacturing site in Jiaxing. Nouryon intends to evaluate the possibility of expanding operations at Jiaxing.

“Friend has a great reputation in the industry and with this acquisition we’ll now have manufacturing facilities in Asia, Europe and North America,” said Johan Landfors, Managing Director Polymer Chemistry at Nouryon.

Meanwhile in China, Nouryon recently completed the expansion of its site in Ningbo, doubling its production capacity for dicumyl peroxide (DCP). The plant can produce 38,000 t/y of DCP which makes it the largest of its kind in the world. “There is an increasing demand for polymers that require DCP, for example high voltage cable insulation for upgrading electricity networks and connecting offshore wind parks and other sources for renewable energy,” said Landfors.