Evonik’s Saudi JV signs mechanical completion for plant

17-Oct-13

The Saudi Acrylic Polymer Company (SAPCO), a joint venture (JV) which has been established by Evonik Industries and the Saudi Acrylic Acid Company (SAAC), has signed the Mechanical completion certificate for the superabsorbents polymer plant in Jubail, which was built under Evonik license. The signing of the certificate marks an important milestone for the start-up of the plant and the beginning of commercial production in Q4-2013. "The new facility is the first superabsorbents production plant in the Middle East region", says Patrik Wohlhauser, Evonik Executive Board member and responsible for the Consumer, Health & Nutrition reporting segment. "That underlines Evonik’s strong commitment to the emerging markets and will boost once more our leading position for superabsorbents." Evonik is a leading global producer of superabsorbents, a key basic material for the manufacture of diapers and feminine hygiene products. The production capacity of the new facility will be around 80,000 metric tons p.a. whereas the overall investment range was in the triple-digit million euro range. SAAC is a joint venture of the Saudi companies National Industrialization Company (Tasnee) and Sahara Petrochemicals. "The investment will close the value chain from oil to diaper production in Saud Arabia. We are happy that with Tasnee and Sahara we have found very professional partners for our regional growth strategy", says Dr. Claus Rettig, Head of the Evonik Consumer Specialties Business Unit. "Now we can offer our customers high-quality and up-to-date technology to serve the growing market of the Middle East."