Evonik has crossed a milestone with the near completion of a new and the world’s largest polyamide (PA) 12 complex at Marl Chemical Park in Germany. Operation at the €500-million ($594 million) facility will start in Q4 this year.
 
Seen as its largest investment in Germany to date, the new complex increases Evonik's production capacity for the high-performance polymer by more than 50 per cent. 
 
Construction for the modern PA 12 complex buttressed by Evonik's sites in Asia.
 
Commenting on the milestone, Armin Laschet, Minister President of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, said: “This complex stands for the future viability of our state. Investing in this state-of-the-art complex creates new, highly skilled jobs. Policymakers need to do everything they can in the future to ensure such investments are made here in Germany and not in other countries.” 
 
He added: “Evonik’s decision to build its new polyamide 12 complex (in Germany) is further strong evidence of the attractiveness of our federal state.”
 
Christian Kullmann, Chairman of Evonik's executive board, called the new complex starting operations this year despite the pandemic as a “masterstroke by our team”.
 
He said: “Three years ago, we decided to produce this leading high-tech German product for the world market in the Ruhr region. We have kept our word, and completion of the demanding construction phase is almost on schedule.”
 
Bernd Tönjes, Chairman of Evonik's supervisory board, said the chemical industry is not the problem, but it is part of the solution.
 
He said: “The chemical industry needs to find answers to the pressing issues of the future such as climate change.”
 
Evonik, a global leader in the production of PA 12, has been producing customised high-performance polymers for demanding applications for more than 50 years.
 
PA 12 is used in attractive growth markets such as 3D printing, medical technology, automotive engineering, and as substitute for steel. 
 
Vestamid compounds benefit from high demand in attractive markets, while the PA 12 powder Vestosint is used, for example, to coat metals for consumer goods, dishwasher baskets, and parts used in the automotive industry.
 
Evonik is active in more than 100 countries around the world and generated sales of €12.2 billion in 2020. It employs 33,000 people.
 
The PA 12 complex will create 120 new highly skilled jobs. –Tradearabia News Service