INVISTA
PA 6.6 expansion inaugurated in Shanghai doubles capacity / R&D centre planned in Texas
By Dede Williams
Invista Nylon Chemicals (China), a subsidiary of US polyamide giant Invista (Wichita, Kansas; www.invista.com), has upgraded its site in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP) with the completion of a CNY 1.75 bn (EUR 220 mn) expansion of its PA 6.6 polymerisation facilities.
Invista Nylon Chemicals (China), a subsidiary of US polyamide giant Invista (Wichita, Kansas; www.invista.com), has upgraded its site in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP) with the completion of a CNY 1.75 bn (EUR 220 mn) expansion of its PA 6.6 polymerisation facilities.
 Invista Nylon Chemicals has expanded its PA 6.6 capacity at Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (Photo: Invista) |
The investment, announced in 2021, doubles Invista’s annual output capability to 400,000 t/y. The company says this will boost the value of its vertically integrated production chain for the polymer by adding stable local supply, in addition to accelerating its market response to enhance the growth potential of downstream applications.
Related: Invista may shed PA fibres business / Management explores options
The new facilities at the Chinese complex are backwards integrated with existing units that connect upstream adiponitrile (ADN) and hexamethylene diamine (HMD) production. The site also houses the US major’s Asia innovation centre.
Technology claimed to be solvent-free
Invista’s polymerisation technology gets by without chemical solvents, using an aqueous solution method to prepare PA 6.6 salts. This, it says, simplifies the production process, enhances safety and environmental performance, besides being more energy efficient than alternative technologies.
As part of the modular construction process, 63 modules for the new facilities were built in Invisita’s module yard and transferred to the Chinese site. By pre-building, the company said it was able to reduce the number of workers on site and at the same time ease the potential impact on ongoing production, thus enabling smooth business operations while accelerating the expansion process.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Brook Vickery, senior VP global operations, said Invista will continue to innovate in production technologies and operations to improve its resources and energy. Ruan Li, director general of the SCIP administrative committee, commented that the PA specialist has been playing a leading role and cooperating with park management as it develops an advanced and competitive nylon industry base.
While the US producer is building up capacity in China, it is cutting back its domestic market. In October 2023, Invista said it planned to shutter its ADN and HMD plants in Orange, Texas, as the high price of PA 6.6 had led to substitution pressure. Some 300 jobs were seen to be affected.
Related: New large-scale project for PA 6.6 at Chinese site of Tianjin
The nylon manufacturer, which bought the then-existing PA chain facilities, along with the nylon trademark from DuPont (Wilmington, Delaware, USA; www.dupont.com) in 2004, is part of the chemicals portfolio of the privately owned Koch (Wichita; www.kochinc.com).
As part of the modular construction process, 63 modules for the new facilities were built in Invisita’s module yard and transferred to the Chinese site. By pre-building, the company said it was able to reduce the number of workers on site and at the same time ease the potential impact on ongoing production, thus enabling smooth business operations while accelerating the expansion process.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Brook Vickery, senior VP global operations, said Invista will continue to innovate in production technologies and operations to improve its resources and energy. Ruan Li, director general of the SCIP administrative committee, commented that the PA specialist has been playing a leading role and cooperating with park management as it develops an advanced and competitive nylon industry base.
While the US producer is building up capacity in China, it is cutting back its domestic market. In October 2023, Invista said it planned to shutter its ADN and HMD plants in Orange, Texas, as the high price of PA 6.6 had led to substitution pressure. Some 300 jobs were seen to be affected.
Related: New large-scale project for PA 6.6 at Chinese site of Tianjin
The nylon manufacturer, which bought the then-existing PA chain facilities, along with the nylon trademark from DuPont (Wilmington, Delaware, USA; www.dupont.com) in 2004, is part of the chemicals portfolio of the privately owned Koch (Wichita; www.kochinc.com).
Commitment for Texas technology centre
In other news, Invista says it has “recently committed” to a USD 13 mn (EUR 11 mn) capital project to create a Texas Technology Center (TTC), bringing together its R&D capability and other technology resources.
The company said its research campus – to take shape in the Houston, Texas, area – would support its global technology needs in the intermediates and polymer product lines for both the nylon and propylene businesses.
The company said its research campus – to take shape in the Houston, Texas, area – would support its global technology needs in the intermediates and polymer product lines for both the nylon and propylene businesses.
27.08.2024 Plasteurope.com [256032-0]
Published on 27.08.2024
German version of this article...