Petrochemicals firm Braskem, the biggest thermoplastics resins producer in the Americas, comes to K Fair in Dusseldorf with its investments rising and its international presence in consolidation. Braskem has plants in Brazil, the United States, Mexico and in Germany, and in 2016 alone will invest around US$ 1 billion, 60% more than in 2015, in projects involving strategic expansion and diversification.Among Braskem's new projects are its Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW-PE) factory under construction at La Porte, Texas, USA, where production should start up before the end of this year. The new plant will make UTEC resin, a product whose exceptional physical characteristics make it impact-resistant and highly durable. Developed by Braskem's scientists, the resin is used in oil and gas production and in the defence and construction industries.
Another of Braskem's major recent investments has been in the Petrochemical Complex in Mexico, brought on stream in June this year in a joint venture with Mexican group Idesa. The complex's production capacity is 1.05 million tonnes of ethylene and polyethylene a year and boosts Braskem's total annual production to 8.7 million tonnes of resins. The complex represents an investment of US$ 5.2 billion, considered the biggest of the last 20 years in the Mexican petrochemical sector.
One of the five biggest producers of thermoplastic resins on a worldwide basis, Braskem will show new applications at the fair for polypropylene and polyethylene resins, and for its green polyethylene: applications which will be available for clients worldwide in the food, cosmetics, logistics, automotive and other industries.
The innovations developed by Braskem aim to boost competitiveness and the sustainability of the company's products and processes. Its portfolio of innovative solutions in plastics and chemicals areas meet clients' needs in various market segments in more than 70 countries.
