Evonik is reporting to switch its direction with regard to performance materials’ development and production. It’s decided to drop its polyphthalamide manufacturing operations and instead focus on transparent polyamides aimed at specialist markets.
To make the move, scheduled to be completed early in 2020, Evonik plans to shut down its polyphthalamide sales and production operation at Witten, and is investing €400 million in setting up a new PA12 (polyamide 12) facility at the Marl Chemical Park in Germany. The company, which has been producing high performance polymers and plastics for 50 years, says the new facility, and the reorganization of its polyamide business, should push up its PA12 capacity by 50%, and result in increased production of high-performance transparent polyamides.
According to Evonik this will increase its involvement in growth markets like 3D printing and optics, as well as boosting it in the automotive, light construction and composites sectors.