October 14, 2024 – Significant strides have been made in the new material industry with recent developments at Tianjin Xinhecheng Material Technology Co., Ltd.’s (Tianjin Xinhecheng) advanced material supply chain project and the Sinopec Catalyst Tianjin New Material Production Base.
Tianjin Xinhecheng has secured a pre-approval for sea use from the Tianjin Planning and Natural Resources Bureau for its ambitious project in the Tianjin Nangang Industrial Zone. This milestone paves the way for obtaining a sea use right certificate, crucial for the smooth progression of the 10 billion RMB project spread over 380,000 square meters. As a key municipal project, it aims to establish a complete supply chain for hexamethylenediamine (HMD) – adiponitrile (ADN) – nylon 66 intermediates and high-end nylon materials, breaking technological barriers in nylon production. This move is poised to bolster the upstream and downstream nylon high-performance material industry in the region, supporting the development and refinement of the petrochemical chain in Nangang. Tianjin Xinhecheng’s leadership role will further propel the industrial zone towards high-quality petrochemical development, accelerating the construction of a world-class chemical new material base. On July 17, 2024, Xinhecheng announced an investment plan approved by its board, signing an investment cooperation agreement with the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area Administrative Committee.
The project is set to unfold in two phases. The first phase, covering 200,000 square meters with a 3 billion RMB investment, will leverage proprietary technology to build a 100,000 tons/year ADN-HMD facility. The second phase, with a proposed 7 billion RMB investment, plans to construct a 400,000 tons/year ADN-HMD plant and extend downstream to a 400,000 tons/year nylon 66 project, with final details contingent on market conditions.
Regarding feasibility, Xinhecheng believes the project will enhance the regional nylon new material supply chain, create new development opportunities, and drive the aggregation and upgrading of new material industries, contributing to local economic growth. Utilizing butadiene to produce ADN, it will complete the C4 comprehensive utilization chain, fostering the development of high-performance materials like nylon resin and breaking foreign monopolies on ADN, aligning with the industrial plan of Tianjin Nangang Industrial Park. The project’s products are competitive globally, backed by mature technology and low technical risks.
Meanwhile, the Sinopec Catalyst Tianjin New Material Production Base, located in the same industrial zone, has commenced operations. This facility, employing the first domestically developed intelligent production system, fills a technological gap domestically, disrupts foreign monopolies, and transitions products from “traditional manufacturing” to “intelligent manufacturing,” striving to become a world-leading catalyst new material production hub. Sinopec Catalyst (Tianjin) Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Petrochemical Catalyst Co., Ltd., initiated planning in 2021, registered in 2022, and mapped out a comprehensive plan including 2,000 tons/year silver catalyst units, 1,250 tons/year polyolefin units, 200 tons/year spherical polypropylene catalyst and 500 tons/year carrier units, a 3 tons/year polyolefin elastomer catalyst industrial test unit, and supporting utilities, auxiliary production facilities, and living facilities.
With a total investment exceeding 5 billion RMB, the Sinopec Catalyst Tianjin base is currently undergoing three phases of construction. The first phase, now operational, focuses on producing silver and polyolefin catalysts using a domestically pioneering intelligent production line that integrates production monitoring, management, and operations through process interlocking, intelligent recognition systems, and DCS control. This automation and informatization not only transform production but also break foreign monopolies, filling domestic technological voids and achieving catalyst import substitution.