Evonik has started an integrated production complex for isophorone and isophorone diamine in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP), China. The annual output capacity of the over 100 million EUR plants will be 50,000 metric tons.
Evonik primarily plans to use the output to serve customers in the coatings and paint, construction, adhesives, and composite industry in Asia. So far products based on isophorone (crosslinkers) were being manufactured in Marl and Herne, Germany, and in Mobile, USA.
Additionally, Evonik built an application technology service center with state-of-the-art laboratories at the Xinzhuang site in Shanghai.

The global market for isophorone and its derivatives grows at a stronger annual rate than global gross domestic product. Asia showes above-average growth. Isophorone and its derivatives are used, e.g., in lightweight construction for automobiles, in highly durable wind power stations, as well as in heavily used surfaces, such as floor coverings in parking garages, facades exposed to demanding climatic conditions, or ships operating in salty ocean water.

• Evonik Industries AG, Essen, Germany