Foster Wheeler AG announced that a subsidiary of its Global Engineering and Construction Group has secured an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCm) contract from Lanxess Butyl Pte. Ltd., to build a new Neodymium Polybutadiene (Nd-PBR) rubber plant on Jurong Island, Singapore.
The new facility will be designed to produce 140,000 tonnes per annum of Nd-PBR and will include process and finishing buildings, a central control room, a substation and a tank farm.
It will be built alongside Lanxess’ 100,000 tonnes-per-year synthetic butyl rubber plant, the facility of its type in Asia, due to start up in 2013, and for which Foster Wheeler is also the EPCm contractor.
LANXESS states that the use of Nd-PBR reduces the rolling resistance and increases the vehicle energy efficiency compared with conventional tire rubber, also reducing tire abrasion, playing a significant role in making cars safer as well as “greener” and more economical.
The Foster Wheeler contract value for this project is not disclosed and will be included in the company’s third-quarter 2012 bookings.