Borealis AG has started up a compounding plant in Taylorsville, N.C., first announced in 2017.
The new facility will produce polypropylene, thermoplastic polyolefin and short glass fiber compounds with the capacity of 30,000 metric tons per year, the Vienna-based polymer maker said on April 3.
The firm said one of its customers, Volkswagen AG's Skoda car brand, achieved weight-savings of 6.5 percent by using the new grade for lower dashboard, glove box and center console applications.
Scheduled for official grand opening on May 16, the plant has already supplied samples to potential customers, which include automakers and Tier 1 companies in North America.
The company has already secured several projects "with leading North American and European OEMs," said Lucrece Foufopolous, executive vice president of polyolefins and innovation and technology for Borealis.
Among the first products manufactured at the plant, are automotive materials approved and listed by customers such as Daimler AG and VW, Borealis said.
The materials company is producing its new low-density TPO compound Daplen EE058AI automotive applications at the plant.
The 10 percent talc-filled, elastomer-modified grade is designed for automotive interiors requiring low odor, emission and fogging levels.