German speciality chemicals producer Evonik Industries (Essen; www.evonik.com) and Austrian-based Secar Technologie (Hönigsberg; www.secar.at) have created LiteCon Advanced Composite Products, a joint venture to mass produce fibre-reinforced composite components for the automotive and aviation industries.

The new company will be based in Hönigsberg and managed jointly by the two companies with Evonik owning 49% and Secar 51%. The German company brings its expertise in materials development to the JV – particularly its experience in developing "Rohacell" structural foam – while Secar shares its capabilities in the mass production of lighweight parts. The Austrian company is known for its highly specialised development and manufacturing of fibre-reinforced composite materials and components. Dr. Arnim Kraatz from Evonik and Karl Heinz Semlitsch from Secar are to be the managing directors of the Austrian-based joint venture.

"For years now, our products have supported efforts within the automotive and aviation industries to move toward lightweight construction and LiteCon is the next step in our partnership with those industries," stated Gregor Hetzke, a business unit president at Evonik.

The structural foam is used in sandwich construction applications found in airplanes and sports cars, wind turbine rotor blades, X-ray tables for medical applications and in athletic and recreational equipment.