Release Time: 2022-06-20 Number of Clicks: 927

Düsseldorf, Germany, June 17, 2022 – UniteChem Group, the world’s leading supplier of light

stabilizers for plastics in a broad range of high-end industrial applications, has announced that it

has departed on an ambitious expansion journey with major investments in global production

capacity and local customer support. Building on more than 20 years of experience in the

market, the Group is determined to create value, deliver success and meet industry targets

through highly responsive, long-term collaboration with customers and optimized product

solutions. The growing portfolio will be on display during K 2022 from October 19 to 26 in

Düsseldorf, Hall 8a, Booth E33.

“Over the past two decades, we have been taking our expertise in innovative light stabilizers

and other performance additives beyond China to meet the demands of a growing customer

base worldwide,” says Junyi Lin, CEO of UniteChem Group. “Our current investments extend

across all levels, adding production, R&D, local sales and logistic capacities to get closer to

upstream and downstream customers and maintain security of supply in line with our key

values of Trust, Partnership and Excellence.”

Adding capacity in intermediates and finished products

One of the important strengths of UniteChem is its solid backward integration, providing

extensive production flexibility, high reliability and maximum quality control. The Group’s

current 80,000 tons capacity for intermediates is being ramped up to more than 300,000 tons

with an expansion of its existing Suqian (Jiansu) facilities. In addition, three new plants are

scheduled to come on-stream in 2022/2024 at Nanchong (Sichuan), Shengjin and Shengrui (both

Jiangsu). These significant investments will also allow UniteChem to integrate further

intermediates in its production and support the availability of new additive solutions.

Capacity in finished products will be more than doubled by an increase of 50,000 tons to meet

growing customer demands for both existing and new products, such as UV absorbers –

produced in a novel environmentally friendly process – as well as nucleating agents and other

stabilizers. At its expanding Suqian site, UniteChem is also adopting a new and more sustainable

technology for synthesizing benzotriazole UV absorbers in a proprietary catalytic hydrogenation

reduction process.

Moreover, as part of its commitment to sustainability in line with the Sustainable Development

Goals of the United Nations, the Group is investing in dedicated recycling, reuse and reduction

initiatives at its production sites. Installed capabilities today include 280,000 m³/hr of waste gas

treatment using regenerative thermal oxidization (RTO) technology, 1,800 m³/day of waste

water treatment, and 8,800 tons/year of solid chemical waste treatment.

Growing portfolio of performance additives

UniteChem Group began producing industry-standard light stabilizers such as LS-944 in 1997

and has been continuously expanding its polymer additives portfolio ever since. Recently

commercialized HALS (hindered amine light stabilizer) products have included LS-2020 for fibers

and webs of polyolefin and other polymer materials, and LS-119 mainly for agricultural,

greenhouse and engineering polymer applications in automotive etc.

Soon to be commercialized will be LS-4050 (in 2023), a low-molecular weight HALS for thick-wall

items, as well as several halogen-free bisphenol A bis(diphenyl phosphate) BDP and piperazine

pyrophosphate (PAPP) flame retardants for demanding components such as multi-fiber push on

(MPO) connectors, and two high-heat polyamide (PA) stabilizers for automotive parts and fibers.

Innovative product developments in the pilot stage include new HALS NO-R grade, state-of-theart

stabilizers for high-pesticide agricultural applications, and various nucleating agents mainly

for use in polyolefins (PP, PE) but also in polyethylene terephthalate (PET), engineering

polyesters (PBT) and polylactic acid (PLA).

Boosting customer support in Europe

After establishing a major warehouse in Antwerp, Belgium, and opening a Sales office in

Düsseldorf, the next steps in expanding the European footprint of UniteChem will be to double

its workforce and bring its technical support even closer to local customers. Experienced market

specialists with strong industry focus and covering additional languages will be added to the

European Sales Team, ensuring faster response and lasting partnerships.

The Group is also looking at potential further logistic sites in other EU countries, e.g. Italy, to

improve the availability of product samples and accelerate the time-to-market of innovative

new applications. Apart from building a network of local warehouses, security of supply is

backed by shipments from several different key ports in China, including Guangzhou, where

UniteChem operates a major warehouse, as well as Shanghai, Qingdao, Tianjin and Lianyunyang.

Going public to enable further investments

As part of its commitment to invest in future solutions for its customers, UniteChem Group

regularly allocates five percent of its total revenue to R&D, operating five independent

laboratories – including its recently opened modern Shanghai R&D Center. In order to secure

the funding of major investments especially in capacity and portfolio expansion, the Group is

currently filing for initial public offering (IPO) at the Shanghai Main Stock Exchange and expects

to become officially listed around December 2022.

Visit UniteChem during K 2022 in Hall 8a, Booth E33, to meet the Group’s team, learn more

about their expanded service and product offering and discuss how your business can benefit

from their growing global and local footprint.