Press release
Corporate Press
February 14, 2018

Evonik opens new polyamide 12 powder plant in Marl

  • Facility to meet large demand in attractive markets for
    3-D printing and metal coatings
  • Investment boosts “Smart Materials” growth engine and solidifies leading market position for specialty polyamide 12 powders
  • Evonik has invested an amount in the mid double-digit million Euro range

Evonik Industries has opened another production line for specialty polyamide 12 powders (PA 12) of its VESTOSINT® brand at its largest global production site in the Marl Chemical Park. The new facility primarily produces high-performance powders for the 3-D printing market, which is expanding heavily with double-digit growth rates.

“Polyamide 12 is part of our strategic Smart Materials growth engine that involves optimizing the performance and efficiency of products with improved materials. We significantly expanded our polyamide 12 powder plant in Marl in order to support the development of future-oriented technologies such as 3-D printing with innovative solutions,” says Harald Schwager, deputy chairman of the Executive Board of Evonik Industries.

The investment volume for the new VESTOSINT® plant is in the mid double-digit million Euro range. With the new plant, Evonik is increasing its existing annual capacities for PA 12 powders by 50 percent. The specialty chemicals company manufactures its high-performance powders from PA 12 granulate in a proprietary process in its integrated production network for polyamide 12 products.

“The new production capacities will enable us to assume an even more prominent role in the global growth of attractive markets such as the coatings industry or 3-D printing,” explains Claus Rettig, chairman of the Board of Management of Evonik Resource Efficiency GmbH. “In addition, we are able to develop new customized polymer powders even faster and more flexibly in order to support our customers’ strong growth and thus of our polyamide 12 powder business.”

Evonik markets the high-performance polymer polyamide 12 as a powder under the VESTOSINT® brand, for example for coating metals in household goods, dishwasher baskets, in the automotive industry or in medical technology. In addition, Evonik has for many years been engaged in the development of specialty polymer powders that enable the industrial production of high-tech components based on 3-D printing. VESTOSINT® stands out for its high quality and is fully optimized for the corresponding 3-D printing technology in terms of processing and property profiles.

Evonik has developed customized high-performance materials for demanding applications for over 50 years. The company is a global leader in the production of polyamide 12 polymers, which are in large demand in highly attractive markets such as the automotive industry, oil and gas production, medicine, or sports. 

Image Caption: 
From left: Dr. Claus Rettig, Chairman of the Board of Management of Evonik Resource Efficiency GmbH, Dr. Ralf Düssel, Head of the High Performance Polymers Business Line of Evonik, Werner Arndt, Mayor of the City of Marl, Dr. Jörg Harren, Site Manager Chemiepark Marl of Evonik Technology & Infrastructure GmbH, Dr. Harald Schwager, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of the Evonik Industries AG, Dr. Matthias Kottenhahn, Head of Strategy & Projects of Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH

Company information
Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The focus on more specialty businesses, customer-orientated innovative prowess and a trustful and performance-oriented corporate culture form the heart of Evonik’s corporate strategy. They are the lever for profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value of the company. Evonik benefits specifically from its customer proximity and leading market positions. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world with more than 36,000 employees. In fiscal 2016, the enterprise generated sales of around €12.7 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of about €2.165 billion.

About Resource Efficiency
The Resource Efficiency segment is led by Evonik Resource Efficiency GmbH and supplies high performance materials for environmentally friendly as well as energy-efficient systems to the automotive, paints & coatings, adhesives, construction, and many other industries. This segment employed about 9,000 employees, and generated sales of around €4.5 billion in 2016.


Disclaimer
In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to