Germany. Evonik began construction of a new complex of polyamide 12 facilities as part of its reorganization of the high-performance polymer business, and is expanding its production of transparent polyamides in the Marl Chemical Park, in order to attract growing markets such as the automotive, oil and gas, 3D printing and optics industries.
With an investment of approximately €400 million, the new plant will increase the company's overall capacity for PA 12 by more than 50 percent. The facility complex is scheduled to become operational in the first half of 2021.
At the same time, the company will also expand the production of transparent polyamides in Marl. Production expansion is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2020. The change will double the company's overall capacity from specialty chemicals for the high-performance material.
"The reorganization will concentrate our production and our innovative strengths on specialized materials for promising applications in attractive markets such as lightweight construction, additive manufacturing and composites," explains Ralf Düssel, head of Evonik's High Performance Polymers line. "The change will mean a more intense focus on developing sophisticated specialized solutions," he adds.
In addition, as part of the reorganization process, Evonik will withdraw the polyphthalamide (PPA) business from its previous location in Witten at the end of the first quarter of 2020. "We will use internal synergies to accommodate our nearly 300 Witten employees with secure jobs at the new plant in Marl, where we will be able to leverage their decades of proven experience in polymer and composite production," says Iordanis Savvopoulos, head of Evonik's Granules and Composites line.
