Evonik enhancing production of Rohacell foams
November 28, 2019 - Germany
Evonik is enhancing production of Rohacell high-performance rigid, closed-cell foams at its Mobile, Alabama site in the US. The production expansion is scheduled to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2020. This will significantly increase the company’s production capacity for high-temperature resistant polymethacrylimide (PMI) foams in North America.
Demand for lightweight construction materials for specialty applications has been increasing.
“The investment in Mobile strengthens our global position as a reliable partner and solutions provider of high-performance, lightweight PMI-based rigid foams and enables us to meet increasing demand in North America over the long term,” says Christina Walkosak, head of the High Performance Polymers business line, Americas, for the specialty chemicals company Evonik.
The expansion of Rohacell production in Mobile includes construction of an additional production hall. Moreover, all shipping logistics will be combined in the new facility. It was in 2008 that Evonik ventured across the Atlantic to start production of Rohacell high-temperature resistant polymethacrylimide foams in Mobile, Alabama.
“For many years now, we have been seeing consistently high global demand for our high-performance foams, particularly from the aerospace industry and the electronics market, and we are responding to the marketplace by expanding our production capacity accordingly,” says Walkosak. Two years ago Evonik stepped up its Rohacell production in Germany by 20 per cent. “Now we’ll be significantly increasing our output in North America to be able to support our customers’ growth appropriately.”
Rohacell, a rigid structural foam of polymethacrylimide, is used in the design and production of sandwich structures in aviation, cars, ships, sports goods, electronics, and medical technology. This extremely light foam withstands high temperatures and pressures, making it an ideal core material solution for composite structures. Such components can be produced quickly and efficiently, reducing production times and costs for the manufacturer. Additionally, the lightweight benefits of the product provide energy savings over the lifespan.
Demand for lightweight construction materials for specialty applications has been increasing.
“The investment in Mobile strengthens our global position as a reliable partner and solutions provider of high-performance, lightweight PMI-based rigid foams and enables us to meet increasing demand in North America over the long term,” says Christina Walkosak, head of the High Performance Polymers business line, Americas, for the specialty chemicals company Evonik.
The expansion of Rohacell production in Mobile includes construction of an additional production hall. Moreover, all shipping logistics will be combined in the new facility. It was in 2008 that Evonik ventured across the Atlantic to start production of Rohacell high-temperature resistant polymethacrylimide foams in Mobile, Alabama.
“For many years now, we have been seeing consistently high global demand for our high-performance foams, particularly from the aerospace industry and the electronics market, and we are responding to the marketplace by expanding our production capacity accordingly,” says Walkosak. Two years ago Evonik stepped up its Rohacell production in Germany by 20 per cent. “Now we’ll be significantly increasing our output in North America to be able to support our customers’ growth appropriately.”
Rohacell, a rigid structural foam of polymethacrylimide, is used in the design and production of sandwich structures in aviation, cars, ships, sports goods, electronics, and medical technology. This extremely light foam withstands high temperatures and pressures, making it an ideal core material solution for composite structures. Such components can be produced quickly and efficiently, reducing production times and costs for the manufacturer. Additionally, the lightweight benefits of the product provide energy savings over the lifespan.