Solutia boosts Pensacola PA production

Working through the second phase of a series of capacity expansions that began in 2006 and are expected to continue through 2008, Solutia Inc. (St. Louis, MO) announced plans to add 40,000 tonnes production capacity for its Vydyne and Ascent polyamide (PA) 66 products. The work is ongoing at the company’s Pensacola, FL site, with the reconfiguration of existing manufacturing resources, plus other planned moves, eventually boosting capacity by 72,000 tonnes.

Solutia said the impetus for the expansion was growing global demand for PA 66, from China specifically and Asia in general. The Vydyne products are typically used in injection molding and extrusion of automotive, consumer, electrical, electronic, and industrial products. Ascend sees more use in the textile, carpet, and industrial-fiber markets.

According to the China Textile Network Information Technology Co. Ltd., there were 81 producers of nylon in China by 2000, with production capacity rising from 269,600 tonnes in 1996 to 526,400 tonnes annually by 2000. In spite of this, the Network reported that China depended on imports of nylon for more than 60% of its consumption.—[email protected]