The new hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) factory of AlainXinko, a global manufacturer of high-performance elastomers, in Changzhou, Jiangsu, was officially opened

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On February 4, global high-performance elastomer manufacturer Allnex announced the official opening of its new hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) factory in Changzhou, Jiangsu. The Arlanxeo Shareholders’ Committee, Dr. Faisal Mohammed Al Faqeer, Senior Vice President of Saudi Aramco’s Liquid Chemicals Division, and Stephan van Santbrink, CEO of Arlanxeo, attended the event. Representatives from the Shareholders’ Committee of Arlanxeo, members of Arlanxeo’s Global and China Management Teams, customers and partners, as well as local government officials and community representatives from Changzhou were invited to attend. “China is very important for the growth of Saudi Aramco’s downstream business. The inauguration of Alang Xinke’s new Therban® hydrogenated nitrile rubber factory is another important manifestation of Saudi Aramco’s strategy to expand its downstream business through diversification and synergy across its business portfolio, reflecting our strong confidence in China’s innovation capabilities and manufacturing strength. We also look forward to further deepening our cooperation to contribute more to China’s pursuit of high-quality and sustainable development. ” Faisal **** Al-Fakir, Senior Vice President of Saudi Aramco’s Liquid Chemicals Division and member of Aramco’s Shareholders’ Committee, said. Arlanxeo CEO Shambuling said, “Today’s inauguration is a significant milestone in Arlanxeo’s development, and it fully demonstrates our long-term commitment to the Chinese market.” We sincerely appreciate the trust and unwavering support shown by the Changzhou Municipal Government, our parent company Saudi Aramco, and all our partners. The full operation of the new factory will enable us to further integrate local production and R&D capabilities, thereby enhancing the resilience of our global supply network. By supplying the market with high-quality synthetic rubber products manufactured locally, we will continue to work together with our customers to drive innovation and accelerate application development, thereby creating greater economic and social value within the synthetic rubber value chain. ” According to the information provided, the new factory is a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the industry, with an annual production capacity of around 5,000 tons. It is used to produce high-performance Therban hydrogenated nitrile rubber products, which can be applied in various scenarios where high durability and reliability are required under extreme conditions, including automotive parts, oil and gas systems, industrial equipment, aerospace applications, and next-generation mobility batteries. The new plant is located at Arlanxeo’s Changzhou production site, adjacent to the EPDM rubber plant and the Asia Technology Center. It will further enhance the company’s overall capabilities—from technological innovation to large-scale production—and unlock the diverse application potential within the downstream industrial chain. Phase I of the project was successfully put into trial operation in October 2025, with a production capacity of approximately 2,500 tons. Additionally, it was noted that while fully adhering to Arlanxeo’s global standards in the areas of safety, efficiency, and sustainability, the plant is equipped with energy-saving post-treatment technologies that can effectively enhance production efficiency and product consistency. Thanks to an advanced thermal oxidation system, the plant can optimize energy utilization in key production stages. Compared to traditional post-treatment processes, it can reduce carbon emissions by approximately 80% ； Under a closed-loop energy recovery and emission reduction design, the factory produces no conventional wastewater during the production process, thereby helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. From the start of construction to full operation, the plant has maintained excellent safety performance. The project was successfully commissioned within 13 months; during the construction period, over 1.1 million safe working hours were achieved, with zero lost-time accidents and zero recordable incidents. It is reported that with the Changzhou hydrogenated nitrile rubber plant now officially serving as a production hub for China and the Asia-Pacific region, Arlanxeo has established a globally integrated production network for hydrogenated nitrile rubber, encompassing the Americas (Orange, USA), Europe (Leverkusen, Germany), and Asia (Changzhou, China).