Parsippany, N.J. — Evonik Corp. will increase production of rigid, closed-cell foam at its Mobile, Ala., site to meet growing demand for lightweight construction materials.
The Parsippany-based U.S. operation of Essen, Germany-based specialty chemicals company Evonik AG is building another production hall for its Rohacell brand polymethacrylimide (PMI) foam, which is used to design and produce sandwich structures for aviation, automotive, ship, sporting goods, electronics, and medical technology.
All shipping logistics also will be combined in the new facility expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2020.
The company said the investment will significantly increase production capacity for high-temperature resistant PMI foams in North America. The ability to withstand high temperatures and pressures make the extremely light foam ideal for core materials of composite structures.
"The investment in Mobile strengthens our global position as a reliable partner and solutions provider of high performance, lightweight PMI-based rigid foams and enables us to meet increasing demand in North America over the long term," Christina Walkosak, Evonik's head of the High Performance Polymers Business Line, Americas, said in a news release.
Components made from PMI can be produced quickly and efficiently, which reduces production times and costs for the manufacturer.
"For many years now, we have been seeing consistently high global demand for our high performance foams, particularly from the aerospace industry and the electronics market, and we are responding to the marketplace by expanding our production capacity accordingly," Walkosak said.
Two years ago, Evonik stepped up its Rohacell production in Germany by 20 percent.
"Now we'll be significantly increasing our output in North America to be able to support our customers' growth appropriately," Walkosak said.
Evonik began production of Rohacell PMI foams in Mobile in 2008.