DSM
Broad expansion in engineering plastics / Growth in performance materials targeted
Dutch chemical group DSM (NL-6401 JH Heerlen; www.dsm.com) is expanding production in its Engineering Plastics business group (EP, NL-6130 AA Sittard; www.dsmep.com) to the tune of EUR 100m. In China, the division, which had sales of EUR 579m in 2002, is building its fourth compounding line, in Pune, India, it is erecting a smaller plant for its “Akulon” PA 6. At Emmen in The Netherlands, production capacity for the “Arnitel” copolyester elastomers is being increased by 25%, and a new compounding plant is being built for Akulon. Capacity for DSM´s speciality “Stanyl” PA 46 is also being expanded. Finally, plans for a debottlenecking of Akulon and “Stamylan UH” (UHMW-PE) are being drawn up.
DSM´s “Vision 2005” focuses on highly profitable speciality chemicals in the Life Science Products and Performance Materials divisions – EP is part of the latter. The Dutch group considers itself worldwide leader in the high performance plastic PA 46, number two worldwide in copolyesters, Europe´s number three in PA 6 and PA 66, and among the top five in PBT (“Arnite”). In polycarbonate (the portfolio comprises the “Xantar” specialities and blends) it regards itself as number three. EP has three production sites each in North America (two in the US and one in Canada) and Asia (one each in China, India, Japan). Its four European sites are at Emmen and Geleen in The Netherlands, Genk, Belgium, and Stade, Germany.
DSM´s “Vision 2005” focuses on highly profitable speciality chemicals in the Life Science Products and Performance Materials divisions – EP is part of the latter. The Dutch group considers itself worldwide leader in the high performance plastic PA 46, number two worldwide in copolyesters, Europe´s number three in PA 6 and PA 66, and among the top five in PBT (“Arnite”). In polycarbonate (the portfolio comprises the “Xantar” specialities and blends) it regards itself as number three. EP has three production sites each in North America (two in the US and one in Canada) and Asia (one each in China, India, Japan). Its four European sites are at Emmen and Geleen in The Netherlands, Genk, Belgium, and Stade, Germany.
23.10.2003 Plasteurope.com [14004]
Published on 23.10.2003