Solvay continues to add capacity for specialty resins, recently announcing plans to boost production of Amodel-brand materials by 15 percent in Augusta, Ga.
In a news release, officials said that the increase for Amodel polyphthalamide (PPA) will be "a result of operational excellence initiatives" and that the new capacity "facilitates production of innovative and more sustainable grades that offer a reduced CO2 footprint."
They added that Amodel "has played a critical role" in replacing metal in the auto industry for more than 30 years and that as the industry moves toward electrification, the material is increasingly being used in electric motors and power electronics for battery electric vehicles.
The Augusta site has decreased its global warming potential by 30 percent since 2013, officials said. All electricity sourced by the site is renewable and the plant has reduced water consumption by 15 percent and non-sustainable waste by 30 percent vs. a 2018 baseline.
Earlier this year, Brussels-based Solvay announced plans for major capacity additions for Solef-brand polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) in France and China. The firm also has increased capacity for long-fiber compounds in Belgium and had expanded a U.S. research and development center in Alpharetta, Ga.
Solvay employs more than 23,000 worldwide and posted sales of $11 billion in 2021. In March, the firm announced plans to split itself into two public companies, including one making specialty materials that would include plastics and composites.