Bayer's.

Bayer's Polymers Division, Pittsburgh, PA, has entered to long-term sales and pipeline agreements with The Geon Company and ARCO Pipe Line Company as part of the expansion of its Baytown, TX facility. Bayer produces hydrogen chloride during production of methylene diisocyanate and toluene diisocyanate, the two main components used in making polyurethanes. Geon uses hydrogen chloride as a source of chlorine, a raw material for making PVC at its LaPorte, TX plant. Under the sales agreement, Geon will buy anhydrous hydrogen chloride from Bayer, to be delivered by a pipeline constructed and operated by APL. APL will add a pipeline for Bayer to transport anhydrous ammonia from the Houston Ship Channel area to the Baytown plant. The ammonia is a raw material needed for the manufacture of both TDI and MDI. To better serve its current customers and lay the foundation for future growth in the North American wood industry, Bayer's Polymers Division is investing in significantly expanded research and development capabilities, polyurethane raw materials supply, and management, technical and sales personnel. Bayer supplies the North American wood industry with polyurethane raw materials used to manufacture a variety of composite wood products. Bayer's polymeric methylene diisocyanate (PMDI) is used as a binder in the production of composite wood products. Bayer's Pittsburgh campus has been selected to house the Bayer Global Wood Products R&D Center. Bayer plans to bring approximately 300 million pounds of methylene diisocyanate (MDI) capacity onstream later this year at its Baytown, TX facility.