UCB invests in new production unit of Radcure monomers

Surface Specialties, one of the two main activities of UCB, acquired a land of 225 acres located in St-Ghislain, in the region of Mons in Belgium, with the purpose to construct a new plant dedicated, in a first step, to the production of Radcure resins, of which UCB is currently considered world market leader and for which the demand is growing constantly.

This new plant is part of Surface Specialties' world-wide development strategy and will complete the Group's existing production units in several other European countries.

The first phase of this new facility represents an investment of 25 million euro. The start of the construction is foreseen as soon as permits are obtained and the plant should be operational in 2006, with an annual production capacity of 30,000 tonnes of Radcure monomers. The unit will then employ 50 people.

The geographical location of the site, which is easily accessible by road, rail and water, will also have a positive effect on the long-term development of the Radcure activities as well as the other coating technologies used by Surface Specialties. The region is currently marked by a period of economic and industrial growth. The necessary competencies needed to build a European plant could be found locally.

The installations and equipments will be adapted according to the latest techniques and will correspond to the highest standards for innovative products, both on an environmental and on a sustainable development level.

Radcure is a range of resins curable by UV/EBC beam. The applications are numerous: in the graphic arts (used as a component for inks and overcoat varnishes), the industrial coatings (protection of artificial or real wood, metal and other substrates) and in the field of opto-electronics (flat liquid crystal screens, printed circuits and optical fibres). The absence of solvents and the energy savings that distinguish this technology, make it a totally environmentally friendly process. This also explains why Radcure resins are increasingly important on a global scale.