DSM NV plans to build a new engineering plastics compounding plant near Pune.
The plant will triple DSM’s Indian capacity for compounds based on its Akulon-brand nylon 6, Arnite-brand polybutylene terephthalate and Stanyl-brand nylon 4/6, DSM officials said in a March 27 news release.
DSM — based in Herleen, the Netherlands — already operates about 20 million pounds of compounding capacity in Pune. The new compounds will be used to make molded parts for automotive, electrical and electronics, consumer and industrial markets.
“This new facility will further strengthen our service level to the rapidly expanding Indian automotive sector,” DSM Engineering Plastics President Jos Goessens said in the release.
A company spokeswoman in the Netherlands declined to disclose capacity or investment figures, but said the expansion will boost employment to 100 from 20 when it opens in the second quarter of 2008. Most of the production will be consumed in India.
DSM has expansion plans for plastics across the globe as well. Last year, the firm announced it would build new plants making nylon 4/6 and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene at its complex in Geleen, the Netherlands. Also in 2006, DSM announced plans to double the size of its engineering plastics compounding plant in Jiangyin, China.
DSM posted sales of more than 8 billion euros ($10.7 billion) in 2006. Its engineering plastics unit accounted for about 1 billion euros ($1.3 billion) of that total. DSM employs 22,000 worldwide, including 1,300 in engineering plastics. Its North American headquarters is in Evansville, Ind.
