Polyolefins specialist Borealis has decided to build an automotive polypropylene (PP) compounding plant in Taylorsville, North Carolina, the US.

North Carolina has been selected for its strategic location and proximity to the company's customer base, as well as for the business-friendly and supporting environment of the State and the County, according to the Austria-based materials supplier.

With this investment, Borealis will step up its capacity, capabilities and support infrastructure, securing its position as a local supplier to automotive OEMs and their Tier partners in North America.

"We are aware that North America is a competitive market with established suppliers, however, we are convinced that our cutting-edge material solutions will continue to help our customers create value through innovation and enable us to grow with them on a global basis," explained Nicholas Kolesch, Head of Automotive Marketing at Borealis.

The North Carolina plant is scheduled to become commercially operational in early 2019 and will initially produce PP compounds in the Daplen family of PP thermoplastic olefins (TPO) and in the Fibremod range of PP short glass fiber (SGF) reinforced materials. The plant will complement the existing Borealis Automotive Compounding assets located in New Jersey, as well as the current production via tolling partners.

"We are very excited to be expanding our automotive business in North America and look forward to working more closely with our customers in the region to deliver our global material innovations locally," said Ken Wiecoreck, President of Borealis Compounds Inc.

Polyolefins specialist Borealis has decided to build an automotive polypropylene (PP) compounding plant in Taylorsville, North Carolina, the US.

North Carolina has been selected for its strategic location and proximity to the company's customer base, as well as for the business-friendly and supporting environment of the State and the County, according to the Austria-based materials supplier.

With this investment, Borealis will step up its capacity, capabilities and support infrastructure, securing its position as a local supplier to automotive OEMs and their Tier partners in North America.

"We are aware that North America is a competitive market with established suppliers, however, we are convinced that our cutting-edge material solutions will continue to help our customers create value through innovation and enable us to grow with them on a global basis," explained Nicholas Kolesch, Head of Automotive Marketing at Borealis.

The North Carolina plant is scheduled to become commercially operational in early 2019 and will initially produce PP compounds in the Daplen family of PP thermoplastic olefins (TPO) and in the Fibremod range of PP short glass fiber (SGF) reinforced materials. The plant will complement the existing Borealis Automotive Compounding assets located in New Jersey, as well as the current production via tolling partners.

"We are very excited to be expanding our automotive business in North America and look forward to working more closely with our customers in the region to deliver our global material innovations locally," said Ken Wiecoreck, President of Borealis Compounds Inc.