Solvay to raise polymer production capacity by 25% in India

Global specialty chemicals major Solvay will increase resin production capacity at its plant in Panoli, Gujarat, by 25 percent to support strong demand for its innovative ultra-high performance polymers KetaSpire and AvaSpire. The Panoli plant recently received Responsible Care certification from the Indian Chemical Council (ICC) recognising its dedication to developing and supplying products and services that, throughout their life cycle, pose minimum risk to human beings and the environment, while best meeting customer needs.
 
Solvay's Global Business Unit Specialty Polymers offers a wide range of high and ultra-high performance polymers for various industrial applications. Due to their strength, toughness, excellent friction and wear properties, heat and chemical resistance, Solvay's KetaSpire and AvaSpire are used in markets growing at least 8-10% annually. In transportation, these ultra-polymers replace metals and help make cars and airplanes lighter thereby reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Other key markets include healthcare, electronics and energy.
 
Capacity expansion of the polyaryletherketone resin, used as a base to make KetaSpire polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and AvaSpire polyaryletherketone (PAEK), is already underway to reach more than 1,000 tons per year in the third quarter of 2015.
 
"Demand for KetaSpire and AvaSpire resins has been growing significantly thanks to Solvay's ability to deliver innovative and tailored solutions in close relations with its customers. Today's announcement to debottleneck capacity shows we are determined to keep pace with this growing demand worldwide and with our customers' creativity in leveraging the features of our innovative materials," said Augusto Di Donfrancesco, President of Solvay Specialty Polymers.
 
Ever since commissioning its polyaryletherketone resin operations in 2008, Solvay Specialty Polymers has progressively built up resin capacity at Panoli. Solvay's major R&I centre in Savli, also located in Gujarat and about 100 km from Panoli, made important contributions to innovations that are supporting the site's expansion.