Evonik to expand specialty polymer production capacities in Asia

06 May 2010 13:24  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--Evonik Industries said Thursday it is to expand production capacities for polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) at its facilities south of Shanghai, China, and in Taichung, Taiwan.

The German speciality chemicals business is also expanding methacrylic acid capacity at its Shanghai supercomplex, known as MATCH, that became operational five months ago, it said.

The 40,000 tonnes/year Taichung plant in Taiwan produces moulding compounds for light guide panels used in flat-screen monitors. It will have an extra 20,000 tonnes/year capacity come on stream in the second quarter of 2011, Evonik said.

The 18,000 tonnes/year Shanghai PMMA plant supplies moulding compounds to the automotive, lighting, and electronics industries in Asia. Rising demand for these materials has prompted the company to add another 18,000 tonnes/year capacity that will become operational in the second half of 2011.

In the meantime, Evonik has already expanded methacrylic acid production capacity at its Shanghai MATCH industrial plant to 25,000 tonnes/year and the extra capacity is scheduled to come on line this May.

"Our polymer business in Asia is showing remarkable growth rates. That’s why we decided to invest quickly and consistently in the expansion of our plants," said Evonik’s chairman, Klaus Engel.

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