Bayer MaterialScience AG has invested €2.3 million in a new
production line for its Baycusan®range of waterborne
polyurethane dispersions (PUD) for the cosmetics and medical segments. The new
facility, which forms part of the PUD plant at the Dormagen CHEMPARK, will
produce special, top-quality polyurethane dispersions of maximum purity, which
will be sold to the cosmetics industry under the name Baycusan ® C. The
dispersions do not contain any kind of co-solvent, are free of preservatives
and thus have characteristics that are unique to this market.
"With the start-up of production, we have passed another
important milestone," said Dr. Joachim Wolff, head of Coatings, Adhesives,
Specialties (CAS) at Bayer MaterialScience. "For us, innovation and
investment are key to sustainable growth. This project, which we completed in
less than two years, is a wonderful example of our innovation strategy. To enable
us to deliver more success stories, we will invest around 30% more in research
projects and customer-related developments this year than we did in 2007."
Since Bayer MaterialScience introduced Baycusan at the
In-Cosmetics trade fair in April 2008, several hundred samples have been
distributed to potential customers in the cosmetics industry. "The
interest has been considerable,” said Dr. Steffen Hofacker, head of Cosmetics
at Bayer MaterialScience. “Now the business can really start to meet the needs
of the market."
The new facility has been designed to be completely germ-free
and, thanks to a special process developed by Bayer MaterialScience, the
production process dispenses with co-solvents such as NMP (N-methylpyrrolidone)
and ethanol. "This provides the cosmetics industry with plenty of scope,
because they know they can use these dispersions safely in all cosmetic
applications," said Hofacker.
The Dormagen
facility is already preparing for the next stage. As the product also conforms
to the requirements made on polyurethane dispersions for medical applications,
Bayer MaterialScience is currently preparing to launch a Baycusan product line
into the medical market.
For more information, visitwww.bayermaterialscience.com.