Ascend Boosting Nylon 6/6 Compounding Capacity

Ascend Performance Materials LLC says it plans to expand compounding capacity for nylon 6/6 at its Foley, Ala., plant by adding a twin-screw extrusion line there in the first half of 2017. Strong demand -- especially in automotive, electrical/electronic and consumer/industrial products -- is driving the expansion, according to Phillip McDivitt, president and chief operating officer of the Houston-based company.

McDivitt, in an Oct. 24 interview on his company’s stand at K 2016, said that automotive, in particular, is demonstrating favorable trends in terms of metal replacement and the need for high heat resistance under the hood, as downsized engines tend to run hotter. The electrification of vehicles also is helping to drive demand for resins such as nylon 6/6.

McDivitt said Ascend even is expanding its reach into the food packaging sector, where downgauging and puncture resistance are key properties. “It’s relatively new for us,” admitted former Celanese executive, acknowledging that packaging represents a small part of Ascend’s current portfolio, but said, “we’ll grow it via technology.” Nylon 6/6 can help to improve shelf life for meats and other products.

The company, owned by New York private equity firm SK Capital Partners since 2009, also is applying its technology to specialty fibers, such as for sportswear, and sees that as a growing part of its future business.

Ascend, which operates the world’s largest integrated nylon 6/6 line at its Pensacola, Fla., facility, has continued to add polymerization capacity for its Vydyne-brand resin both there and in Greenwood, S.C. “Because we are fully integrated, we can design polymers to suit applications,” McDivitt said. www.ascendmaterials.com