Lucite To Cut Manufactuting Costs

After extensive pilots and tests over the last two years, Lucite International has reached the commercialisation stage of its proprietary technology for the production of Methyl Methacrylate (MMA), known as Alpha. Both cash cost and total cost of MMA production will be reduced by 40% with this revolutionary and simple two-stage patented process.

Alpha will liberate the MMA industry from its historical dependence on the raw materials acetone, HCN and isobutylene, which are by products from other primary processes. Alpha uses ethylene, methanol and carbon monoxide, which are all readily available and will not limit Alpha’s unique scale potential - MMA plants of 200 kte plus are on the horizon with Alpha technology!

Lucite will announce this summer the location for the first plant location which is scheduled to be on-stream by 2008.

Alpha produces benign waste products - water, which is readily bio treatable and heavy esters, which are fuelled to raise steam - so it is non-hazardous and significantly more environmentally friendly than traditional manufacturing processes. It operates at mild conditions, involves no toxic or corrosive chemicals giving high process yields and very low maintenance costs in comparison with existing technologies. Alpha is not exclusively for MMA manufacture, but has potential for being used in the manufacture of other major chemical products.

For more information, contact Edward Taylor, Financial Dynamics, Holborn Gate, 26 Southampton Buildings, London WC2A 1PB, 44(0)207-269-7295, Fax: 44 (0)207 831 8438, E-mail: edward.taylor@fd.com.