ESSEN, Germany - Evonik Industries plans to expand capacities for the specialty polymer polyamide 12. The group is significantly expanding its existing plant in Marl, Germany, and the executive board has approved preliminary and basic planning for a new polyamide 12 production facility in Asia. The 5,000-metric-ton capacity expansion in Marl is expected to start operating in 2012. The Asian facility, which will provide a very significant expansion of 20,000 metric tons, is scheduled for completion within three years; it now awaits the approval of the company’s different bodies.

Dahai Yu, a member of Evonik’s executive board with responsibility for the Specialty Materials segment, said, “With the significant capacity expansion proposed, we plan to consolidate our leading position in polyamide 12 for the long term. We’re relying here on growth in the established markets as well as in emerging regions like Asia.”

Evonik markets polyamide 12 as the structural material VESTAMID® and the coating powder VESTOSINT®.