Covestro AG has announced significant capacity expansions at a number of its film production sites around the world in response to what it said is growing demand seen in all regions.
Leverkusen, Germany-based Covestro is a global supplier of special technical films, primarily made from polycarbonate and thermoplastic polyurethane.
The total investment will amount to more than 100 million euros ($1.16 billion) and include the expansion of the associated infrastructure and logistics, creating more than 100 new jobs worldwide.
According to the company, the sites specifically targeted by the plans include Map Ta Phut, Thailand; Guangzhou, China; South Deerfield, Mass.; and Dormagen, Germany.
By investing in modern and efficient production facilities, Covestro will be able to continue to support its customers in "their competitive environment," Michael Friede, global head of the Coatings, Adhesives and Specialties segment, said.
New production facilities based on modern coextrusion technology will be built in Thailand, and are scheduled for completion by the end of 2019.
At the Guangzhou site, the focus will initially be on converting the existing coextrusion line. The first new capacities are to be available there as early as mid-2019. In a second phase, capacity is also to be expanded there.
In South Deerfield, Massachusetts, measures to increase efficiency and quality are already being implemented.
In Dormagen, where, a year ago, the company commissioned a new production line for high-quality, multilayer flat films, Covestro is also adding new coextrusion lines, which should be completed by some time in the fourth quarter of 2020.
By expanding capacity, the company is creating "the conditions to meet customer requirements more flexibly and quickly," said Thorsten Dreier, global head of the specialty films business.
The technical films produced by Covestro are used in the automotive, medical technology and security card industries, among others.