New Facility Röhm Inaugurates Bay City MMA Plant in USA

Röhm has inaugurated its Bay City MMA plant in Texas, USA. With this, the company’s proprietary Lima technology has been operating at full industrial scale for the first time worldwide.

Texas/USA – Röhm is marking a major milestone at its Bay City, Texas methyl methacrylate (MMA) plant, where the company’s proprietary Lima technology has been operating at full industrial scale for the first time worldwide. Following start‑up, the plant underwent a structured ramp‑up phase, successfully reaching and sustaining full‑scale operation in recent months. To recognize this achievement, Röhm hosted customers, partners and elected officials at the Bay City site, offering a behind‑the‑scenes look at the plant’s operations and the Lima technology.

Lima stands for Leading in ‘Leading in Methacrylates.’ MMA is a critical building block for products used in automotive, manufacturing, construction, electronics, and medical applications. The facility is also the first C2‑based MMA production plant in North America, strengthening regional supply chains and domestic manufacturing capacity.

At the event, Röhm CEO Hans Bohnen noted the Bay City plant underscores the company’s broader strategy to lead through technology and long‑term investment. “As the only global producer of both methyl methacrylate and polymethyl methacrylate with production sites in the major regions of Europe, Asia, and North America, we are uniquely positioned to serve our customers worldwide - reliably, locally, and with leading technology,” said Bohnen.

The Bay City plant strengthens supply security for North American customers by relying on readily available raw materials, including ethylene and natural gas, and by anchoring production closer to end markets.

“This reflects our long‑term commitment to customers across the region, and Bay City’s strategic location allows us to efficiently serve both North American and global markets,” said Jack Chenault, President of Röhm Americas. The facility employs around 90 people and operates with a strong focus on safety. “Safety is our top priority,” emphasized Chenault.

Inside the Bay City Facility that is “Redefining Chemistry”

At the event, visitors toured key production areas, including the core reactor systems (the “heart of the technology”) and the MMA distillation unit, and learned how Lima technology is being applied at scale.

The technology was developed by Röhm in Germany over several years and successfully transferred to industrial scale in the United States with the support of investor Advent International. Through its partnership with Röhm, Advent has invested approximately 1.6 billion dollars (around 1.5 billion euros) to support innovation and long‑term growth at the company.

“Lima technology does not only mark a technological quantum leap – it is a true game changer for the methacrylate industry,” said Ronald Ayles of Advent International. “Bay City shows that this process can perform at industrial scale while delivering efficiency and environmentally friendly benefits.”

Efficiency, Sustainability and Digital Operations

The Bay City facility has an annual production capacity of 250,000 tons of MMA and is designed to maximize yield while minimizing the use of raw materials. Compared with conventional MMA production processes, Lima technology reduces energy and water consumption and lowers carbon dioxide emissions by up to 42 percent.

Sustainability measures extend beyond the production process. Constructed wetlands surrounding the site support a near‑closed water cycle and provide environmentally responsible treatment of process and cooling water.

The plant also incorporates advanced digital technology, including a digital twin that mirrors the facility’s physical layout, production processes, and control system. The system, which is updated daily, supports operational planning, equipment and predictive maintenance, and dynamic simulations to improve long‑term performance and reliability.

In North America, supply proximity to customers is ensured through a tailored supply chain network with several tank and transloading terminals. The MMA produced, marketed under the Meracryl brand, is distributed via a multimodal logistics network that includes truck, rail and inland waterways. This newly designed supply network reduces long-haul trucking and improves rail supply security, enabling reliable and flexible delivery across the region and to international customers, while strengthening Röhm’s position as a preferred MMA supplier.

“We are sending a strong message to our customers: Röhm stands for reliability and quality and is investing sustainably in the future of the industry,” said Chenault.

(ID:50869532)