Press release
Corporate Press
December 30, 2015

Evonik constructs a specialty copolyester plant in Witten

  • Special copolyesters for pre coated metal coatings cater the trend for epoxy resin-free food packaging in particular
  • Investment in the mid-double-digit million euro range
  • Facility expected to be completed in 2018

 

Evonik Industries is building a new production plant for specialty copolyesters at its Witten site in Germany. As binders for paints, specialty copolyesters are used in coil coatings and, increasingly, in food can coatings. The company is investing a mid-double-digit million euro sum in the plant, which will have annual production capacity of several thousand metric tons. It is scheduled to be completed in 2018. The investment will create around ten new jobs in Witten, where the group currently has around 250 employees.

Dr. Ralph Sven Kaufmann, a member of Evonik’s Executive Board and its Chief Operating Officer, said, "We continue to expand our polyester platform strengthening our position as an innovative supplier of materials for high-quality metal coatings in an attractive growth market." One driver in this market is the trend towards epoxy resin-free can coatings that do not contain bisphenol A.

Dr. Dietmar Wewers, head of the Coating & Adhesive Resins Business Line at Evonik, said, "As the solutions partner of the coatings and packaging industry, we are committed to supporting our customers’ growth. We offer sustainable products to meet customer requirements." Specialty copolyesters are the main building block for coatings that have the right balance between flexibility and hardness. In food can coatings they provide good sterilization resistance, adequate rigidity and protection.

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. Polyesters from the DYNAPOL® brand serve as binders for paints. In addition to coil coatings, they are also increasingly used for food can coatings well as in flexible packaging. Polyesters from the DYNACOLL® brand are used in reactive hot melts applications.

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 7,800 employees, and generated sales of around €4 billion in 2014.

Company information

Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders
in specialty chemicals. Profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value of the company form the heart of Evonik’s corporate strategy. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms.

Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In fiscal 2014 more than 33,000 employees generated sales of around €12.9 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of about €1.9 billion.

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 update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.