US speciality chemicals producer Albemarle (Baton Rouge, Louisiana; www.albemarle.com) is streamlining its mineral flame retardants portfolio and refocusing on developing and growing several key product grades. As part of the restructuring, the company will immediately discontinue production of several of its “Martinal” flame retardants, including “Martinal ON”, “Martinal ON 310”, “Martinal ON 313” and “Martinal ON 4608”. It will continue to sell the products until the end of 2015 or until its inventories have been depleted.

Albemarle said the changes support the evolution of the global mineral flame retardant market, and will also allow it to put greater emphasis on innovation for technologies that will meet customers’ future needs. As part of the measures, the US speciality chemicals producer has also announced a capacity increase for its fine precipitated hydrate alumina trihydrate (ATH) product line in Bergheim / Germany. Albemarle did not indicate final nameplate capacity or investment cost, merely saying that the expansion works are due to be completed by the end of this year.

The Martinal family of flame retardants is mainly used in wire and cable applications. In 2013, Albemarle set up a joint venture for the additives in China, output of which is set to commence this year – for details, see Plasteurope.com of 22.05.2013.