Solvay to expand compounding capacity for specialty polymers in China

15-Oct-10

Solvay plans to build a specialty polymers compounding plant at its site in Changshu, China. Start-up of the plant, requiring investment of €21 miln is expected in Q4-2012. The plant will satisfy the growing demand for specialty polymers in China and serve the fast growing markets in China for electronics, automotive, consumer and industrial applications and will initially start producing compounds of Amodel® polyphthalamide (PPA), xef® polyarylamide (PARA) and Kalix® (modified PARA). The facility will be fully adaptable for future expansion for both overall capacity and for other high-performance and fluorinated polymers. "Our high-end specialty polymers are used in an increasing number of applications in this very dynamic region of the world. We are looking forward providing additional supply flexibility by compounding in closer proximity to our expanding customer base and providing them with more plastics with more performance," said George Corbin, Sr Executive VP, Solvay Group and President of Solvay Advanced Polymers, one of the entities of Solvay's Specialty Polymers Strategic Business Unit. "This investment clearly illustrates Solvay's strategy to enlarge its industrial base in fast moving markets such as China. Sales of Specialty Polymers in Asia were above 25% of total sales in the first half of this year and we see a growing trend," added Augusto di Donfrancesco, GM - Strategic Business Unit Specialty Polymers, Solvay.