Arlanxeo inaugurates new Therban HNBR plant in China

Arlanxeo (part of Saudi Aramco), a global leader in performance elastomers, inaugurated its new Therban hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) plant in Changzhou, China. The new plant supports expanding Arlanxeo’s HNBR production footprint and its ability to deliver reliable, high-quality elastomer solutions to customers across China and the Asia-Pacific region, while helping meet the growing demand for advanced rubber materials in strategic sectors, such as new energy, new mobility, and other industrial applications.

“China is important in supporting Aramco’s downstream growth. Arlanxeo’s new Therban HNBR plant is the most recent demonstration of Aramco’s downstream expansion strategy of portfolio diversification and integration, underscoring our confidence in China’s innovation and manufacturing strength. We look forward to deepening our cooperation and further contributing to China’s high-quality and sustainable growth,” commented Faisal Al Faqeer, Arlanxeo Shareholders’ Committee Chairman and Aramco Senior Vice President.

Stephan van Santbrink, Arlanxeo CEO, stated: “Today’s inauguration marks an important milestone for Arlanxeo and a strong demonstration of our long-term commitment to China. We sincerely thank the Changzhou government, Aramco, and all stakeholders for their trust and continued support. With the new HNBR plant now fully operational, we are further integrating our local production and R&D capabilities to strengthen the resilience of our global supply network. By delivering locally produced, high-quality rubber products, we will continue to collaborate with our customers and accelerate application innovation, creating greater economic and social value across our value chain.”

The new plant is a state-of-the-art facility with a design capacity of 5,000 tons per year, producing high-performance Therban HNBR for demanding applications in automotive components, oil and gas systems, industrial equipment, aerospace, and next-generation battery technologies, where durability and reliability under extreme conditions are critical. Located within Arlanxeo’s Changzhou site, alongside its EPDM plant and Regional Technology Center, the new facility enhances the company’s innovation-to-production capabilities, unlocking greater downstream application potential across diversified industries.

The plant also contributes to upholding Arlanxeo’s global standards for safety, efficiency, and sustainability. It features improving finishing technology that enhances production efficiency and product consistency, and it includes an advanced thermal oxidation system that helps optimize energy use and reduce carbon emissions in key process steps by around 80% compared to conventional finishing processes. With the Changzhou HNBR plant now serving as the hub for China and Asia, Arlanxeo operates an integrated global HNBR production network spanning the Americas (Orange, USA), Europe (Leverkusen, Germany), and Asia (Changzhou, China).