Singapore Polymer Corp. (SPC), a Teknor Apex Co., is now carrying out startup procedures for a plant in Suzhou, China that will produce compounds that comply with international standards for the appliance, automotive, building, electronics, medical device, wire and cable, and other markets. SPC will formally announce the opening of the plant later this month at Chinaplas 2007 (Stand 2D115).

Operating the plant will be a new company, Teknor Apex (Suzhou) Advanced Polymer Compounds Co. Pte. Ltd. The plant will be able to supply to compound rigid and flexible vinyl and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) compounds such as those developed in the U.S. by Teknor Apex and in Singapore by SPC; engineering thermoplastics (ETP) compounds produced in the U.K. and U.S. by Chem Polymer (also a Teknor Apex company); and other specialty compounds developed by SPC.

“Teknor Apex Suzhou will provide Chinese processors with fast access to custom compounds that meet UL, NSF, FDA, CSA, ISO, SAE, and other requirements for competing in export markets,” said Cheah Sin Hua, managing director of SPC. “At the same time, this new venture represents our first step in building local capacity to supply the fast-growing Chinese domestic market.”

The plant thus far includes two compounding lines with a combined initial nameplate capacity of 14,000 tons per year. Additional capacity will come on stream within the next two years, according to Bertram M. Lederer, executive vice president of Teknor Apex.

Teknor Apex acquired SPC in 2001 and in late 2004 acquired Chem Polymer. This year, besides starting up the Suzhou plant, Teknor Apex has begun production of TPEs in the U.K. and is adding a new ETP compounding line in the U.S.—[email protected]