ARLANXEO, a global leader in performance elastomers, has officially inaugurated its new Therban hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) plant in Changzhou, China.
The facility strengthens ARLANXEO’s production footprint and ability to supply high-quality elastomer solutions across China and the Asia-Pacific region, meeting growing demand in sectors including new energy, new mobility, and industrial applications.
The inauguration was attended by Faisal Mohammed Al Faqeer, ARLANXEO Shareholders’ Committee Chairman and Aramco Senior Vice President of In-Kingdom Liquids to Chemicals Development, alongside ARLANXEO CEO Stephan van Santbrink, shareholders’ committee representatives, global and China leadership teams, customers, local authorities, partners, and community stakeholders.
“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,” said Faisal Al Faqeer.
Stephan van Santbrink added, “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 facility, designed with a production capacity of 5,000 tons per year, manufactures high-performance Therban HNBR for demanding applications including automotive components, oil and gas systems, industrial equipment, aerospace, and next-generation battery technologies. The first phase, producing 2,500 tons, was commissioned in October 2025.
Located alongside ARLANXEO’s EPDM plant and Regional Technology Center (RTC) in Changzhou, the new plant enhances the company’s innovation-to-production capabilities and unlocks greater downstream application potential across multiple industries.
The plant also reflects ARLANXEO’s commitment to safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
Advanced finishing technology boosts production efficiency and product consistency, while an integrated thermal oxidation system reduces carbon emissions by roughly 80% compared to conventional processes. Its closed-loop design recycles energy and eliminates routine process wastewater, further lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
Construction to full operation was completed in 13 months with a flawless safety record, logging over 1.1 million man-hours without a single lost-time or recordable incident.
With the Changzhou facility now serving as the hub for China and Asia, ARLANXEO’s global HNBR network spans the Americas (Orange, USA), Europe (Leverkusen, Germany), and Asia (Changzhou, China).
