Purac starts construction Lactide plant in Thailand

Purac, a manufacturer of lactic acid based bioplastics, announced last week the official start of construction for its new Lactide plant in Thailand.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held at the existing Purac site in Rayong, Thailand. The plant will produce monomers for bioplastics.

According to the company, the bioplastics market is highly attractive as PLA contributes, with commercially viable products, to a significantly lower carbon dioxide (CO2) footprint than the traditional oil based plastics. The investment for this new 75,000 tons Lactide plant will be 45 million euros (2 billion Baht). The new plant will be ready for start up in the second half of 2011 to meet the current level of demand and to accelerate market development.

The products are aimed for a broad segment of today's plastics market and enables Purac's partners to produce bioplastic products with a high heat resistance up to 180 degrees Celsius/ degrees 266 Fahrenheit.

The new plant will be located at the existing Purac site in Thailand. The capacity of the Lactides plant will be 75,000 tons. It is designed to produce both L-Lactides and D-Lactides, made out of lactic acid sourced from the existing Purac plants.