Ascend Performance Materials (Houston, Texas / USA; www.ascendmaterials.com) plans to double its production capacity for nylon 6,6 polymers and fibres in Foley, Alabama / USA. The investment will result in the creation of 20 new jobs, raising the workforce at the Foley site by 30%, the company said.

"In order to double our production capacity, and thereby create jobs in Foley, we’ve added a second state-of-the-art extruder, which can handle a wider range of products," Foley plant manager Thomas Boggs said in a statement. Ascend Performance Materials expects to significantly increase exports to Europe and Asia as the new production comes onstream, he added.

The company, which is the former polyamide business of Solutia (St. Louis, Missouri / USA; www.solutia.com), did not provide the cost of the project but according to local reports it will require a USD 7m (EUR 5m) investment. Private equity company SK Capital Partners (New York / USA; www.skcapitalpartners.com) acquired Ascend Performance Materials from Solutia in 2009 – see Plasteurope.com of 15.06.2009.