Polyamide plant targets auto applications

Lanxess (Cologne) has taken its new plant for polyamide (PA) plastics in Antwerp, Belgium, into operation as planned. The 90,000 tonnes/year will primarily serve the automotive industry.

New Belgian PA plant primarily to serve auto sector.

All of the PA manufactured by Lanxess at Antwerp will be processed within the company's global network of compounding facilities into the final Durethan-brand compounds including fiber-reinforced grades. The glass fibers are also produced at a Lanxess facility in Antwerp.

Key auto application for PA include under-the-hood, door structures, pedals, front ends and cockpit crossmembers. A lightweight design using PA can reportedly reduce weight by 10-50%, depending on the component, compared with the metal equivalent.
Furthermore, "the materials enable automobile manufacturers and suppliers to achieve considerable savings in production and facilitate assembly," says Lanxess.