According to Covestro, this makes polycarbonates with adjustable properties accessible, which have been developed and tested on a laboratory and pilot scale in recent years. The investment is in the mid double-digit million euro range and covers a pilot and a production plant, Covestro said.

In addition to the reduced complexity of the new production process, the connection to the existing infrastructure in Antwerp with four production lines for polycarbonate combines the global scale of production with the flexibility of a stand-alone unit.

"The new production process is the first and only one of its kind in the world and enables us to offer a broad portfolio of material innovations," said Sucheta Govil, Covestro’s chief commercial officer. "With the new plant, we can now produce and launch new polymer materials on an industrial scale much faster than before."

Lily Wang, global head of the Engineering Plastics business unit, added: "Compared to pure polycarbonates, the copolymers open up new possibilities for us to integrate further functionalities and properties into our materials. These can range from improved mechanical properties, a higher resistance against chemical attack to an enhanced flame retardancy.”

While Covestro explained that it can offer innovative materials that meet the high requirements of customers in a wider range of applications, it wants to focus first on materials for the electrical, electronics and healthcare industries, while future innovations might include mobility and other trends.