Leverkusen - LANXESS Deutschland GmbH has set up a second plant for the manufacture of Velcorin® (dimethyl dicarbonate), at its Dormagen site. After a construction period of one year, operations began at the production and filling facility at the end of 2005. Regular production has now commenced after completion of the test phase. At the launch ceremony Peter Weinmar, head of the Material Protection Products (MPP) business unit, said: “Thanks to the investment of eight-figure sums we have added a second pillar to the manufacture of our beverage stabilizer, which we have previously only been producing at the Uerdingen site. This also acknowledges the increasing international demand for our technology for stabilizing non-alcoholic beverages and wine."

Ingo Broda, head of the beverages industry business line at MPP, added: “The second plant also fulfills the wish of our customers – particularly from North America and Western Europe – to safeguard our ability to deliver."

Beverages such as spritzers and soda containing fruit juice, flavored water, ice tea and wine that are produced using natural ingredients can easily spoil as a result of spores, bacteria, yeasts or mold fungi. These microorganisms also impair the flavor, aroma or color of the liquids. Protecting soft beverages and wine from the effects of harmful microbes therefore plays a key role in safeguarding quality and is at the same time a form of preventive consumer protection.

Velcorin® is added to the finished beverage directly before filling. It immediately performs its function in eliminating typical beverage – spoiling germs and then degrades into tiny amounts of methanol and carbon dioxide – which are natural components of fruit juices and fruit-juice-based beverages. The beverage no longer contains the stabilizer by the time it reaches the consumer. The assessments of the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Joint Expert Committee for Food Additives (JECFA) of the World Health Organization (WHO) have deemed Velcorin® as safe.

Velcorin® is licensed in a wide range of countries around the world and has been successfully used in many beverages since its market launch. “A targeted registration and licensing strategy has enabled or will enable us to access new markets in Asia and Latin America in the near term– where we see further excellent opportunities for growth as a result of demand and market development," said Ingo Broda.

The Material Protection Products business unit, one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of biocidal active ingredients and formulations for wood protection, industrial applications, disinfection and preservation, is part of the Performance Chemicals segment. This sector achieved sales of EUR 1.977 billion in fiscal 2005.