Polyamide-based performance materials supplier Solvay is building a Technyl polyamide (PA) compounding unit in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, with initial annual capacity of 10,000 tonnes/yr. This new facility is expected to become operational in the third quarter of 2017 to serve the region’s and America’s growing automotive and consumer goods markets.

The Solvay facility will share infrastructure with Korean Tier 1 auto parts molder Chunil Engineering, a leading supplier of transmission components who has been voted GM Supplier of the Year multiple times. The Chunil plant is scheduled for completion in November this year.

Mexico is the second largest producer of automobiles and commercial vehicles in the Americas and is ranked seventh worldwide with annual production exceeding 3,5 million units in 2015 according to the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles (OICA).  In addition, many consumer goods and electrical equipment players are located close by, offering new opportunities for Solvay.

“This new plant will help us to support our fast growing Technyl polyamide business in North America, in addition to our current capabilities,” states Vincent Kamel, President of Solvay Performance Polyamides. “Many of the world’s top automotive OEMs are located in the region, which makes it an ideal base for us to serve both local and U.S. markets and contribute with our solutions to cleaner mobility.”

To minimize investment cost and time to market, Solvay is partnering with Chunil Engineering, one of its major customers. Solvay is planning additional investments to serve the NAFTA market.

“Our collaboration with Chunil Engineering - a global automotive tier 1 - enables us to optimize the site’s infrastructure including the use of power, water and waste treatment,” explains Peter Browning, General Manager of Solvay’s Engineering Plastics Business Unit. “As our business develops we will expand this modular 10,000-tonnes/year unit’s capacity to meet the rapidly growing needs of our customers in the region.”

Solvay supports customers worldwide with a complete array of advanced services designed to speed the development of new applications, from material characterization to application validation. This offering includes 3D printing of functional prototypes in Sinterline PA6 powders, predictive simulation with MMI Technyl Design as well as part testing at fully equipped APT Technyl Validation centers.