"Global demand for polycarbonate has increased considerably, with the strongest growth in Asia/Pacific, particularly in China. But there is also increased demand in Europe where the material’s versatility and other properties make it an ideal material for a variety of applications, for example in the automotive industry, where it is used to make vehicles lighter and more energy efficient. For Europe, we expect an average growth of five percent," says Dr. Günter Hilken, head of Polycarbonates at Bayer MaterialScience.

Another reason for the strong growth in Europe is the increasing demand for technology driven products such as in the electronic entertainment industry. One example is state-of-the-art LCD TV screens which must meet requirements for “eco-labels” as well as strict legal requirements with regard to flammability. There is also increasing demand for polycarbonate in other industries such as furniture and medical applications.

"To cope with this increased demand we need a competitive, world-scale manufacturing plant ? and this is exactly what we will achieve with the expansion at Uerdingen. We will use state-of-the-art technologies and optimize the whole process. The plant will become less complex, more reliable and considerably more energy efficient," says Dr. Tony Van Osselaer, member of the Executive Board at Bayer MaterialScience.

In addition to the polycarbonate expansion at the site, Bayer MaterialScience is also currently rebuilding chlorine production facilities to increase energy efficiency. The new facilities will utilize state-of-the-art membrane technology and the innovative company’s Oxygen Depolarized Cathode (ODC) technology. Compared with the membrane technology ODC will reduce both electricity use and indirect CO₂ emissions up to 30 per cent.