Polyplastics updates on new capacity expansion at K 2025

Polyplastics Co., Ltd. provided an update on new capacity expansions for its polyoxymethylene (POM), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), and cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) materials at K 2025 exhibition (Hall 7A/B02) which runs Oct. 8-15 in Düsseldorf, Germany. The company has made significant investments to meet the supply needs of its customers throughout the world.

Construction of a new COC production facility in Leuna, Germany, is nearly complete. Commercial start-up of the new 25,000-ton/yr plant is expected by second quarter 2026. The new plant will more than double the company’s current output and meet the growing global demand for Polyplastics’ TOPAS® COC products. It will be operated by local Polyplastics subsidiary TOPAS Advanced Polymers GmbH.

“This expansion is a major step forward in the long-term growth track of TOPAS® COC,” said Hidekazu Kitayama, managing director of Polyplastics Europe GmbH. “The new plant will continue to position us as a reliable supplier for the packaging and healthcare sectors while establishing sustainable solutions for a truly circular economy.”

The Leuna facility is situated on a 30,000-sq-meter site which provides ample space for future capacity expansions. Initially, it will produce several low-Tg grades for supply to all global regions.

Polyplastics’ existing COC production plant is located in Oberhausen, Germany, about 400 kilometers west of Leuna. Since the opening of the Oberhausen plant in September 2000, a broad range of applications for TOPAS® COC has been developed. The material has become a critical component in many medical devices based on its outstanding purity and glass-like properties.

The new capacity will play a key role in meeting increased demand for such applications as insulin pumps and diagnostic components while also enabling sustainable packaging solutions. In packaging products, TOPAS® COC raises the performance of commodity polyolefins (polyethylene for example), enabling the development of simpler, more recyclable and sustainable solutions. Mono-material film structures based on PE and enhanced with TOPAS® COC are recyclable as PE, unlike multi-material solutions using layers of PET or other PE-incompatible plastics. TOPAS® COC has been certified as a recyclable material by a number of European independent testing labs, e.g. Institute cyclos-HTP, and in the US has received APR recognition for use in films and HDPE bottle applications.

Expansion of DURACON® POM Production Capacity in China                                                                  

In November 2024, Polyplastics commenced commercial operations at its newly established DURACON® POM manufacturing plant in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China (Phase 1: annual capacity of 90,000 tons). This marks a major step toward meeting the strong domestic demand in China. As of March 2026, the plant is expected to be operating at full capacity, supplemented by continued shipments from Malaysia and the Fuji Plant in Japan.

To support the Chinese market’s annual growth rate of 3-4%, plans for a Phase 2 expansion are underway, aiming to further increase the local production ratio. In fiscal year 2027, Phase 2 of the Nantong plant (with an additional annual capacity of 60,000 tons) is scheduled to begin operations, bringing the total POM production capacity in China to 150,000 tons per year. This expansion will allow Malaysia-produced POM, previously supplied to China, to be redirected to markets in India, ASEAN, and the West. Polyplastics is also investing in energy-efficient production facilities and conducting research into environmentally conscious raw materials and fuels, contributing to a more sustainable society.

Establishing Integrated LAPEROS® LCP Production in Taiwan

Meanwhile, a new LAPEROS® LCP plant with an annual capacity of 5,000 tons began operations in Taiwan in February 2025. With demand recovering—particularly in the electronics devices sector—Polyplastics plans to increase LCP sales volume by approximately 15% in fiscal year 2026. The plant is scheduled to reach full operation within the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, enabling an integrated production system with compounding in Taiwan. This setup is expected to shorten lead times and reduce inventory levels.

In fiscal year 2027, Polyplastics plans to introduce new polymers for high-performance electronic devices that support faster data transmission. Through enhanced performance and expanded applications of LCP, the company aims to contribute to the advancement of next-generation communication technologies.