Baytown, Texas -- Bayer MaterialScience is set to invest some U.S. $120 million into its Baytown, Texas, site. Baytown, which celebrates 40 years of manufacturing success this year, is the companys largest manufacturing facility in the United States and is a keystone of Bayer MaterialSciences global manufacturing strategy.

"Our Baytown plant is a critical asset in the Bayer MaterialScience global portfolio," said Dr. Tony Van Osselaer, member of the Executive Committee of Bayer MaterialScience and head of Industrial Operations. "It is a first-rate manufacturing facility and these significant investments are our commitment to keeping it fit for the future."

The planned U.S. $120 million investment includes:

• Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) - environmental upgrades, reliability improvements and minor debottlenecking.
• Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) - improved process technology, environmental upgrades, and energy efficiency and reliability improvements that will increase productivity.
• Polycarbonate - reliability upgrades and quality improvements for advanced optical applications.

"These comprehensive upgrades will support the growth we are anticipating in the NAFTA region," said Greg Babe, president and CEO of Bayer Corporation and Bayer MaterialScience LLC.

Commenting on the investments, Rod Herrick, Baytown general plant manager, said, "Reliability and safety are our priorities. A safe plant is a more reliable plant. In 2010, Bayer MaterialScience Baytown employees achieved their safest record in the 40-year history of the plant. These investments are a tribute to them as well as to the ongoing performance of the site."

MDI and TDI are highly versatile chemicals used to produce polyurethanes used in flexible foam for the furniture and automotive industries; rigid and spray foams for insulation in the construction industry; and coatings, adhesives, and sealants. Polycarbonate is used in innovative applications including automotive headlamp lenses, optical data storage (CDs and DVDs) medical devices and shatter-resistant optical lenses.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Source: Bayer MaterialScience