Evonik expands specialty amines production capacity in Nanjing

According to Evonik, Asia in general and China in particular are important growth markets for Evonik, driven by ongoing consumption upgrades and a shift toward more sustainable solutions across diverse applications. In this evolving market landscape, advanced materials such as polyurethane foams and epoxy curing agents play an increasingly important role.

Evonik stated that the expanded production capabilities in Nanjing also support its global manufacturing network and improve access to raw materials beyond the Asian market.

“This inauguration marks more than the launch of new production capacity. It underlines Evonik’s long-term commitment to China. By strengthening local production, sustainability, and innovation, we are building a resilient platform for future growth together with our partners,” said Christian Kullmann, chairman of Evonik Executive Board, at the inauguration ceremony.

Specialty amines are key additives in the production of polyurethane foams used in automotive, construction, furnishings, and consumer goods, and they also play a key role as curing agents in epoxy systems for various applications like protective coatings and adhesives. Evonik stated that next-generation reactive amines can improve processing efficiency and product performance while meeting growing market demands for higher energy efficiency, lower odor, and reduced VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions.

According to Evonik, with upgraded production capabilities, the Nanjing plant is now equipped for commercial scale manufacturing of advanced reactive specialty amines tailored for high performance polyurethane and epoxy applications facing increasingly stringent emission standards. These advancements support more sustainable manufacturing practices and help protect the health and well being of production personnel, application specialists, and end users.

“The successful start-up of the expansion significantly strengthens our strategic presence and competitiveness in China. We look forward to working closely with local customers to jointly advance high-quality and sustainable industry development in the region,” said Fuliang Xia, president of Evonik Greater China.

Evonik stated that Nanjing site demonstrates its commitment to sustainable and responsible manufacturing within the Nanjing Jiangbei New Material Technology Park. The company’s long standing collaboration with the Nanjing government is underscored by their joint participation in both the groundbreaking and inauguration ceremonies. According to Evonik, the expansion reinforces Evonik’s global strategy of enhancing competitiveness through efficient production hubs in several regions including China, contributing to regional industrial upgrading and the green transformation of the chemical industry.

Image Credits: Evonik