Symrise Starts Production for Expanded Menthol Capacities

With this key milestone, the company aims to consolidate its market leadership, and is working closely in this field with its Leverkusen-based partner Lanxess, which is also expanding its capacities.

8 Jun 2012 ---Symrise has brought its expanded menthol capacities into operation, thereby doubling the production volume of this highly coveted raw material. Also there was partner, Lanxess, who delivers the preliminary product and has also invested extensively.

Menthol is literally in every mouth, it cools the skin and offers a range of other desirable characteristics. Demand is increasing both in industrialized nations and emerging markets. Symrise would like to partake in this trend and has invested € 16 million in its headquarters in Holzminden in order to double its menthol capacities. With this key milestone, the company aims to consolidate its market leadership, and is working closely in this field with its Leverkusen-based partner Lanxess, which is also expanding its capacities. In addition, Symrise is investing in the facility in Bushy Park in the United States in order to process greater volume flows around the world.

Symrise has been producing the key raw material synthetic menthol since 1973 and offers its customers consistently high quality together with a wide range of different menthol-based products. The new plant was set up without interrupting operations – a particular challenge both technically and logistically. But Symrise mastered this with just 560 days of construction time.

Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram, CEO of Symrise AG, spoke about the importance of this investment: “We are delighted to launch our new menthol capacities today after a construction time of just a little over 18 months. With this step, we are extending our leading position in this strategically important segment and investing in a key growth segment. The demand for menthol is experiencing double-digit percentage growth – primarily in the emerging markets. Their economic strength will have a significant effect on the global markets in the future.”

Dr. Norbert Richter, Senior Vice President of the Global Business Unit Aroma Molecules at Symrise, added: “Symrise has been producing synthetic menthol for more than 40 years and has long been established as the market leader. With this new plant, we have extended our product base and we are able to deliver consistently high quality to our customers – regardless of harvest and price volatility. We would like to thank all those who have helped us to realize this project in the shortest time possible.”

Dr. Hubert Fink, Head of the Basic Chemicals business unit at Lanxess AG, concurred: “Today, a new chapter has begun for menthol production. In order to cement our partnership, we have also expanded our capacities and look forward to the continued close and successful partnership.”