German materials firm Evonik Industries AG has broken ground on a new production plant for nylon 12 powders in Marl, Germany.
The facility will allow Essen-based Evonik to increase production of its Vestosint-brand nylon 12 powders by 50 percent. The investment was described as being “in the mid-double-digit million euro range.” Company officials previously said in a news release that the expansion would be up and running by the end of 2017.
“With the Marl investment, we're further consolidating our leading position as a supplier of polyamide 12 based high-performance polymers,” Chief Operating Officer Ralph Sven Kaufmann said in the release.
Chairman Claus Rettig added that Evonik's nylon 12 powders “are targeted at highly attractive markets” such as coatings and additive manufacturing. The powders are used for coating metals in household goods such as dishwasher racks, in the automotive industry and in medical technology.
Evonik has also been developing specialty polymer powders that allow industrial production of high-tech components in 3-D printing. The firm produces a range of specialty chemicals and plastics, employing 33,000 worldwide and posting annual sales of more than $13 billion.