Chemtura Organometallics GmbH of Bergkamen, Germany, a subsidiary of US-based specialty chemical manufacturer Chemtura Corp. announces that the company will further expand Bergkamen plant to provide a sustainable supply for tomorrow's global customer requirements of the specialty chemicals trimethylaluminum (TMA), methylaluminoxane (MAO), and diethylzinc (DEZ).

Chemtura and South Korea’s UP Chemical Co Ltd have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form a joint venture that will manufacture and sell high-purity metal-organic precursors for the rapidly growing HB-LED market, focusing particularly on South Korea and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

The JV will leverage Chemtura's capability and technology related to metal-organic precursors for polymerization and other specialty applications, together with its backward integration for TMA for HB-LEDs.

This will combine with UP Chemical’s capabilities in supplying high-purity metal-organic precursors for chemical vapor deposition (CVD) systems at semiconductor device makers in South Korea and the Asia Pacific.

The JV expects to begin supplying precursors to the HB-LED market by December, and to have fully integrated manufacturing capabilities for trimethylgallium (TMG) and trimethylaluminum (TMA) established in Korea in late 2011.

Chemtura’s chairman, president & CEO Craig Rogerson noted that by establishing fully integrated manufacturing and distribution capability in Asia, they are addressing the expectations of customers in the region who demand local manufacturing for improved responsiveness and assurance of supply. The JV advances Chemtura’s strategy for growth in the Asia Pacific.

UP Chemical's CEO Dr Hyun Koock Shin commented that UP Chemical can seize a great opportunity through the partnership with Chemtura at a time when LED backlighting for LCD TVs has grown explosively and highly efficient LED lighting will replace traditional lighting in the coming years.