Evonik to build isophorone plants in Shanghai

"The investment shall further consolidate our strong market and technology positions in isophorone chemistry," says Dr. Thomas Haeberle, the Evonik Executive Board member responsible for the Resource Efficiency segment. Evonik expects to see strong growth in demand for raw materials used in the paint, coating, and construction industries, for automotive applications and for high performance composite materials – especially in Asia. This growth will also be driven particularly by the increasing demand for wind turbines.

For the company, which claims to be the world leader in isophorone chemistry, the plants in Shanghai will be the first for isophorone and isophorone diamine in Asia. "By establi­shing the production platform in China we want to support the long-term growth ambitions of our customers in the Asia region," explains Dr. Ulrich Küsthardt, head of the Coatings & Additives Business Unit. "This strategic positioning will allow us to plan capacities even more efficiently."

Evonik currently manufactures isophorone chemistry products in Mobile, Alabama, USA, as well as in Marl and Herne, Germany. The company says it has more than 40 years experience and is a pioneer in isophorone chemistry.

Isophorone, isophorone diamine, isophorone diisocyanate, and their derivatives are important components in the production of industrial flooring, artificial leather, paints and coatings, for example. They are also used in the growth area of high-perfor­mance composite materials and in chemical synthesis. Evonik distributes the products worldwide under the trademarks of Vestamin, Vestanat, Vestagon, and Vestasol.