The last quarter of 2011 has seen phase-two expansion of Evonik’s PMMA plant in Shanghai completed and put online, thereby doubling its regional manufacturing capacity for molding compounds made of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to around 40,000 metric tons.The PMMA facility, part of a world-scale methacrylate complex, originally commenced with production of Plexiglas molding compounds for the Chinese and all other Asian markets back in 2008.
Evonik began investing in the region as an early mover when it set up its methacrylate complex—a project entailing total expenditure of more than 200 million euro. The expansion of capacity at the plant acknowledges the continued, undiminished, growth of the market and represents a further step forward for the corporation within the scope of its long-term Asia strategy. "This move sees us further strengthening our position as one of the world’s biggest suppliers of specialty polymers and also lending additional import to our Shanghai operations," says Gregor Hetzke, the head of Evonik’s Performance Polymers Business Unit.
Evonik’s PMMA molding compounds enjoy international renown under the popular Plexiglas brand name. It supplies its extensive product range of Plexiglas molding compounds to a variety of industries, among them automotive and electronics manufactures and the lighting industry.
This latest expansion of the PMMA plant also makes accommodations for growing demand in Europe as it helps to better secure supply availability of Plexiglas molding compounds for customers outside of Asia.
