Evonik (Essen, Germany; www.evonik.com) has announced plans to double global output of its Vestamid E brand polyether block amide (PEBA), with the production boost to come from a “major expansion” at its Multi-User-Site (MUSC) site in Shanghai, China, and an “optimisation” project at a plant in Marl, Germany.

Capacity is due to rise at both sites, but the German speciality chemicals and plastics producer declined to reveal specifics about the ramp-up following a Plasteurope.com query, leaving questions about the size and cost of the increases and the type of improvements planned for Marl apart from debottlenecking.

Work on the Chinese expansion is due to begin in the autumn. Plans for the site include the undisclosed investment in polymerisation of PEBA, which Evonik said is enjoying strong demand from the global athletic footwear market, where the polymer is often used in the midsole section of shoes.

Along with the “significant” increase in output capability, Ralf Düssel, head of the high performance polymers business line, said the Shanghai investment will expand the company’s regional presence and place it in an optimal position to compete in a global market focused primarily on local manufacturing in Asia.

Evonik explained that upgrading the production facilities for PEBA is part of its company-wide “Next-Generation Solutions” strategy, which foresees generating more than 50% of sales with products that have superior sustainability benefits by 2030.

The Vestamid eCO line, produced entirely with renewable energy, is claimed to have a carbon footprint 42% lower than typical PEBA moulding compounds while retaining all of the same properties.

Half of the raw materials used in manufacturing the polymer, the company said, are derived from recycled tyres, and production uses a third-party audited, mass-balance approach.