Speciality chemicals company Lanxess (Cologne / Germany; www.lanxess.com) is investing more than EUR 5m in expanding capacity for "Macrolex" dyes at its site in Leverkusen / Germany. The measure is intended to increase the output at the plant by a quarter by the end of 2018. Philipp Junge, head of the Rhein Chemie business unit, says the expansion is addressing demand for high-quality dyes for the plastics industry. "We see a significant increase in demand, especially in Asia."

However, demand is also being driven by stricter regulatory requirements, adds Dominik Risse, who is responsible for Lanxess' Colorant Additives division. Risse says in sensitive application areas particularly, pure products are increasingly needed. The Macrolex brand soluble organic dyes are mainly used to colour plastics such as PS, PC, ABS, PMMA and PET, which in turn are used in products such as beverage bottles, electronic equipment, car tail lights and toys.