DSM building new polyamide 6 plant in N. America

Resin manufacturer Royal DSM is investing in a new plant to make high viscosity Akulon polyamide 6 grades for film and other extrusion applications in North America.

The Netherlands-based company has not disclosed financial details of the investment, and it has not yet determined where the plant will be built.   

“This new plant is our first polymerization plant for high viscosity grades in North America for Akulon polyamide 6, besides our existing infrastructure in Europe and Asia,” said Roelof Westerbeek, president of DSM Engineering Plastics. “It fits with our growth strategy for materials sciences and strengthens our global position in PA6 based films.”

With construction scheduled to start in Q4 2014 and completion targeted for mid-2016, site locations for the plant are currently being evaluated, the company said.

DSM’s extrusion grades of Akulon polyamide 6 are designed mainly for use in food packaging applications.