Evonik expands PEEK production in China

To meet increasing global demand for its Vestakeep brand of polymers, Evonik (Essen, Germany) has announced that it will expand production capacity for polyetheretherketone (PEEK) at its Changchun, China, site. In addition, the innovation pipeline is being continually expanded with new products, the company noted in a press release distributed today.  

Evonik reports consistent, strong growth for its Vestakeep polymers across all relevant industry segments over the past five years. It cites oil and gas, aviation and automotive applications as being among the drivers of demand. "We're very pleased to be able to participate in increasing global demand for PEEK products," said Dr. Matthias Kottenhahn, Head of the High Performance Polymers Business Line, in a prepared statement. "The investment affirms our commitment to support our customers' growth over the long term as well as to continually expand our product portfolio."  

Thanks to their high thermal and chemical resistance, Vestakeep specialty polymers can replace metal components, enabling demanding lightweight structural applications.

The recently developed Vestakeep Easy Slide I PEEK compound features abrasion resistance and low sliding friction, thereby allowing production of smaller and more powerful structural elements such as vacuum pumps.

The recently introduced Vestakeep 5000 HCM (hot compression molding) grade increases production efficiency of customized PEEK seals, delivering superior mechanical properties and performance for the oil and gas industry, according to Evonik.