Global specialty chemicals supplier Cognis opened its expanded and modernized production site at Jinshan near Shanghai (China). The 4.9 million dollar investment has not only increased the capacity of the plant, but will also expand the range of products that the company’s Process Chemicals strategic business unit is able to offer leather and textile manufacturers. The construction work took 21 months, and saw the layout and equipment of the existing facility adapted to new requirements.

By expanding its production capacity for textile and leather intermediates and final blends, Cognis has further enhanced its ability to meet the particular requirements of its customers in the Asia-Pacific region. The Jinshan site now can produce larger volumes and a greater variety of products – including a wider range of textile auxiliaries, decreasing agents, and fatliquors for leather.
 
Comments Dr. Xiaolan Wang, Head of Textile Technology Greater China: “By building new production facilities and modernizing our process technologies, we have now further improved our ability to serve our customers, both in China and throughout Asia, keeping pace with the continued economic growth in the region.”

One of the products manufactured at the Jinshan plant are scouring agents, that offer better whitening and absorbency effects and are more easy to be dyed, as well as softeners, which are supplied in pills form rather than the more conventional flakes. Decreasing agents are cleaning chemicals that remove grease from raw hides and prepare them for further treatment. Fat liquors, derived from animal and vegetable oils, help modify various properties of the leather, making it softer, fuller or smoother to the touch, depending on what the customer wants.