Evonik is doubling its global capacity for VESTAMID E, polyether block amide (PEBA), with a twofold approach including a major expansion of its production plant at the Multi-User-Site (MUSC) in Shanghai, and an optimization project at its production facility in Marl, Germany.

Construction at the Shanghai site starts in Fall 2023 and will increase the company’s ability for the polymerization of PEBA, a key step in producing the raw material, which is highly demanded by the global, athletic footwear market.

“As the worldwide footwear production continues to grow, this latest investment in Shanghai will significantly increase Evonik’s PEBA production capacity, expand our regional presence, and put us in an optimal position to address the global market that is centered primarily on local manufacturing in Asia,” commented Ralf Düssel, head of Evonik’s High Performance Polymers business line.

Complementing the expansion in Shanghai, several other projects are currently ongoing to eliminate bottlenecks and optimize overall production at Evonik’s other major PEBA facility in Marl, Germany.

Evonik expands its global production capacity for VESTAMID E PEBA.

Evonik’s VESTAMID E is a compound with qualities that are suitable for use in high-performance athletic shoes. Continuous technological developments have allowed midsoles featuring VESTAMID E to be extremely lightweight, offering high energy return that enhances the performance of the athlete.

In addition to these attributes, VESTAMID E also exhibits low-temperature impact strength, high chemical resistance and is easy to process and color – making it highly sought after in many demanding applications in the automotive and medical technology industries.

As part of Evonik’s “Next-Generation Solutions” strategy, which has a 2030 goal of having more than 50% of its sales from products with sustainability benefits, the company is also placing high emphasis on producing VESTAMID eCO, which retains all characteristics of a PEBA molding compound.

VESTAMID eCO features a 42% lower carbon footprint – it is made using 100% renewable energy and has 50% of its raw materials based on recycled tires, through a third-party audited, mass-balance approach.