Chinese additive manufacturer Tianhe Chemicals began streaming at its production facility in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, earlier this week.
Originally slotted to stream earlier this year, Tianhe increased its initial planned capacity in Dubai from 30,000 metric tons of additive components and packages per year to approximately 35,000 t/y, CEO G.S. Ravi told a reporter last week.
The first batch will start on Monday, Aug. 29, and we will take a decision to expand or not in 2018, said Ravi. The plant will supply various performance additive packages mainly to the Middle East region, although portions of its output will be exported to India.
Tianhe noted that at least part of the plants capacity will be reserved for contract manufacturing.
Tianhe Chemicals claims to be the largest Asian lubricant additive manufacturer. The firm is headquartered in Jinzhou, in the northern coastal province of Liaoning, and has production and research and development facilities in China. The company said it also has a 220,000 square foot R&D center in Bangalore, India.
Photo: Tianhe Chemicals Group
It also expanded into Japan this year, and is constructing a production facility in Singapore that is set to open early next year. Tianhe had planned to pursue partnerships in the United States and possibly build a plant there via a joint venture, but has since noted that its North American plans have been put on hold.
Tianhe markets additive components such as zinc thiophosphates, ashless dispersants, detergents, extreme pressure additives and additive packages for engine oils, gear oils and industrial lubricants.The company told Lube Report that it is particularly targeting growth in the industrial segment.
The firm has said it aims to sell its additives globally and reach a scale comparable to the industrys four main additive suppliers – Lubrizol Corp., Infineum, Chevron Oronite and Afton Chemical. Tianhe is also a large supplier of fluorochemicals.