Materials group Evonik Industries AG said it will start construction on a new plant at its facility in Weiterstadt, Germany to produce high-quality flat films made from multi-layer polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).
The German group will invest “a sum in the double-digit millions in its Weiterstadt site,” it said in a Feb 14 news release. Production start-up is planned for the end of 2018.
Multi-layered PMMA films are used in medical technology, window and facade construction and in the graphics industry.
“With the investment we have now approved, we are strengthening our role as innovation leader for acrylic-based technologies and products," said Martin Krämer, head of Evonik's acrylic products business line.
The new plant will be able to produce “extremely wide films with a previously unachieved number of layers,” the company claimed.
Michael Enders, head of film activities in the acrylic products business, spoke of new film compositions that Evonik will make in the plant. “We're expanding our offerings of custom-designed specialty films that offer not only our customers but also the consumers genuine added value. Wider multi-layer PMMA films allow particularly long-lasting and sustainable products and offer our customers new design and processing possibilities," he said.
At the Bau 2017 trade show in Munich in January, Evonik presented facade elements made from fiberglass plates equipped with a top layer made of its Plexiglas brand PMMA film.
Evonik said: “The demand for extremely long-lasting and sustainable products has become increasingly important, particularly in the construction and architecture segment.”
