Evonik to construct speciality copolyester plant in Germany

Evonik Industries is building a new production plant for speciality copolyesters at its Witten site in Germany (pictured), on schedule for start up in the beginning of 2018.

The company is investing a mid-double-digit million euro sum in the plant, which will have annual production capacity of several thousand metric tonnes.

As binders for paints, speciality copolyesters are used in coil coatings and, increasingly, in food can coatings.

The project is on track to reach mechanical completion by end of November 2017.

Following the successful mechanical completion, the commissioning phase will be commenced and commercial operation is planned to start in Q1/2018.

Polyester based coatings are perceived as a good alternative to the standard epoxy based coating systems to ensure a bisphenol A free food packaging.

Evonik has anticipated this trend and decided at the end of 2015 to invest in additional capacity, so as to be well prepared to accompany further growth in this market.

Evonik is one of the world’s leading suppliers of polyesters for pre-coated metals and reactive hot melts.

The company has production facilities at its sites in Marl, Witten and Shanghai.