Update 28.02.2022
After the fire incident on 20.11.2021 at the AF-COLOR plant in the industrial area Scheid 27, Niederzissen (Rhineland-Palatinate), normal operations can be resumed from 28.02.2022
The renovation of the production areas affected by the fire for the manufacture of the product groups AF-Color® (color masterbatches) and AF-Complex® (additive masterbatches) has now been completed. The hall complex and the extrusion lines located therein can be fully used again as of 28th February. Furthermore, AF-COLOR has two additional extrusion lines for color and additive masterbatch production at its disposal. This has even significantly increased the total capacity available for the masterbatch business at the Scheid site.
The production of the AF-Carbon® product range (carbon black masterbatches) could be continued without restrictions just a few days after the fire incident.
Smouldering fire at AF-COLOR
After the fire incident last Saturday, 20.11.2021, at the AF-COLOR plant in the industrial area Scheid 27, Niederzissen (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany), production could be restarted in parts.
After assessment of the situation, production of the AF-Carbon® product range (carbon black masterbatches) could be resumed without restriction as of 26.11.2021.
Customers of the AF-Color® (color masterbatches) and AF-Complex® (additive masterbatches) product groups have already been proactively informed by the company about the current status of their deliveries.
Original press release
Last Saturday, 20.11.2021, at around 10.00 a.m., a fire occurred at the AF-COLOR plant in the industrial area Scheid 27, Niederzissen (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany). No people were injured. The fire was extinguished by the fire brigade at around 12:00.
The affected hall complex is divided into 3 parts. The fire started in the rear part, the production area, and caused not only limited thermal damage but also massive soot accumulation on all surfaces of the building and the technical equipment as well as the stock of goods.
In the adjacent part of the hall, the so-called "bagging", no visible thermal damage occurred. Nevertheless, there has been a spread of dirt in the form of soot particles and flue gas condensates on all surfaces.
The third, street-side part of the hall does not show any damage-related contamination.
The fire did not occur during ongoing production, so no employees were harmed. The investigation into the cause of the fire has not yet been completed, but there are no indications of arson or a technical defect in the equipment.
The company AF-COLOR, a branch of AKRO-PLASTIC GmbH, and its parent company are currently checking when production can be restarted. At present, no information can be given as to whether and to what extent the ability to deliver will be affected and whether there could also be production restrictions in the international plants of AKRO-PLASTIC in Germany, Brazil or China. The masterbatches produced at AF-COLOR are used by AKRO-PLASTIC worldwide in the compounding of plastics.
AF-COLOR was founded in 2003 as a branch of AKRO-PLASTIC GmbH and specialises in additive, color and black concentrates for the finishing or coloring of plastics (so-called masterbatches). Since 2004, the company has been operating under its own name in the internationally active Feddersen Group with headquarters in Hamburg.