Evonik launches MMA facility

The topping out ceremony for Evonik Industries’ new integrated production plant for methyl methacrylate (MMA) and methacrylate specialities was celebrated in Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP) on July 2. The integrated methacrylate production facility also houses plants for the production of methacrylic acid, butyl methacrylate, specialty methacrylates, and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) moulding compounds in addition to about 100,000 tons per year of MMA capacity. Evonik generates about 18% of its global sales in the Chemicals Business Area from the automotive industry alone. Downstream of the integrated facility, a new production plant for PMMA moulding compounds and thermoplastic methacrylate resins is under construction. Evonik’s Performance Polymers Business Unit is growing into a major supplier of speciality polymers in China. The start-up of integrated production of PMMA specialities has contributed to this, as have the R&D Center in Shanghai, the PEEK production facility in Changhun and a polycondensation plant for speciality polyamides in SCIP, which is expected to come onstream before the end of 2008. In FY 2007, Evonik’s 4200 employees in the China Region (comprising China, Taiwan and Hong Kong) generated sales of 754 million (US$1.2 billion), representing an approximately 28% sales increase in the region. (July 2, 2008)