Gerard Hoetmer, CEO of CSM comments: “This investment will take us to the next step in our bio-plastics program, where our proprietary technology gives us a considerable opportunity together with our partners, to grow the PLA market. Even a 1% share of the 250 million ton plastics market represents a huge opportunity for our products and our company.”
The products are aimed for a broad segment of today’s plastics market and enables Purac’s partners to produce bioplastic products with a high heat resistance up to 180 degrees Celsius/ degrees 266 Fahrenheit.
Gerard Hoetmer continues: “We have made good progress in co-developing commercial applications for this next generation of PLA, such as in the packaging, foam and fiber industries. This is supported by the drive to reduce CO2 with commercially attractive products. Both from a market and technology perspective, PLA will continue to gain attractiveness compared to traditional oil-based plastics through further investments in future generations of products.”
The new plant will be located at the existing Purac site in Thailand. The capacity of the Lactides plant will be 75,000 tons. It is designed to produce both L-Lactides and D-Lactides, made out of lactic acid sourced from the existing Purac plants.
Background information:
Purac is a leading company in lactic acid based bioplastics and the worldwide market leader in lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives and lactides. Purac develops the bioplastics market through innovative solutions and partnerships with a select group of companies in the plastics industry. Purac has almost 80 years of experience in the development, manufacturing and marketing of these products in a broad range of industries. Purac operates production plants in the USA, the Netherlands, Spain, Brazil and Thailand and markets its products through a worldwide network of sales offices and distributors. Purac is headquartered in The Netherlands and is a part of CSM. For more information: www.purac.com
CSM operates in business-to-business markets throughout Europe, North America, South America, and Asia, generates annual sales of ? 2.6 billion and has a workforce of around 8,450 employees in 25 countries. CSM is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. For more information: www.csmglobal.com
For more information, please contact:
PURAC (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Pornpun Theinsathid
Tel: 0-2231-8174
DC Consultants and Marketing Communications Co., Ltd.
Pimpakarn Chaisung / Montira Ningsomboon /
Paponpat Natweerapoj
Tel: 0-2610-2383 Fax: 0-2610-2345