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.