Evonik’s superabsorbent technologies focuses on polymers that play a crucial role in the production of hygiene products such as personal wipes and, in particular, baby care products like disposable diapers.
The company’s Favor brand of polymers is marketed as a high-tech solution to ensuring nappies stay dry, and the success of the brand has made the company the world’s largest supplier of superabsorbents.
Giving superabsorbents industrial scale
Evonik executives say that the investment at the Krefeld site will ensure that the company can now make superabsorbent technologies usable on an industrial scale and more quickly.
"With these improved facilities we can bring modern generations of superabsorbents to the market even faster and even more efficient," said Norbert Westerholt, who heads the Baby Care Business Line at Evonik.
Test production has already got under way at the facility and the plant is currently producing samples for customers.
Development and production at one site
The investment in the facility’s production capabilities follows on from an earlier investment in a new application technology for superabsorbents at Krefeld.
This means that, in conjunction with the investment in the production capabilities at the plant, the company can now house and integrate product development and production expertise at the same site.
"This will speed up our ability to transfer processes to industrial-scale plants, and it makes us faster, better, and even more reliable," added Westerholt.