Evonik has announced plans to build a new specialty copolyester production plant at its site in Witten, Germany.  The company said the investment in the facility s scheduled for completion in 2018 is in the “mid-double digit” million euro range. The plant’s actual capacity figures were not disclosed although Evonik said it would produce “several thousand” tonnes per year.  Ten new jobs will be created at the site which currently employs around 250 people.

Evonik executive board member and chief operating officer Ralf Sven Kaufmann said the company continues to expand its polyester platform and strengthen its position in the metal coatings market, which is growing at an attractive rate.

Specialty copolyesters are the main component in coatings. They are being used increasingly for food can coatings where they provide good sterilization resistance, adequate rigidity and protection. A major driver is the trend toward epoxy resin-free can coatings that do not contain bisphenol A.