Polyamide 6
DSM Plans a New Polyamide 6 Manufacturing Site in North America
| Editor: Dominik Stephan
Life Sciences and Materials Sciences specialists Royal DSM plan a new investment in the US: The company will build a new polymerization plant for polyamide 6 polymers. The site location, though, is still not yet decided.
Singapore – With these high viscosity extrusion grades of polyamide 6 (PA6), DSM provides solutions to the world’s growing food packaging industry. Roughly 1.3 billion tons of food is lost or wasted worldwide every year, mostly in industrialized countries1. In North America 40% of the food loss occurs at retail and consumer levels and this is where better packaging can make a difference. Flexible films based on Akulon polyamide 6, with its strong barrier against oxygen and aromas and exceptional mechanical strength and durability, will help to reduce food lost or wasted during its journey from farm to fork.
"This new plant is our first polymerization plant for high viscosity grades in North America for Akulon polyamide 6, besides our existing infrastructure in Europe and Asia. It thus fits perfectly with our growth strategy for Materials Sciences, as it strengthens our global position in PA6 based films. This investment is also a demonstration of DSM’s strong commitment to both our global and North American customers and supports our further growth ambitions in the Americas for engineering plastics.” comments Roelof Westerbeek, President DSM Engineering Plastics.
DSM to Grow in Packaging, Engineering Plastics President Pieters Says
Richard Pieters, President DSM Engineering Plastics Americas, states: “We are determined to grow further in the packaging industry where we have already proven to meet our customers’ demand with our in-depth application know how and innovative solutions. Adding locally produced Akulon polyamide 6 grades for film to our North American portfolio complements our offering and strengthens our position to optimally serve our global and local customers.” With construction scheduled to start in the last quarter of 2014 and completion targeted for mid-2016, site locations for the plant are currently being evaluated.
