Evonik operates extrusion plant in South Africa

In August Evonik Acrylics Africa (EEA) is to begin producing extruded PLEXIGLAS? sheets in Elandsfontein, Johannesburg. With an initial number of 20 employees and a new extrusion facility, some several thousand metric tons of semi-finished material will be produced per year for the African market. The products, which are manufactured in accordance with international quality standards, include standard formats as well as special sizes.

Strengthening the market position

 "Over the past years we have continuously expanded the visibility of the PLEXIGLAS? brand in Southern Africa with the aim of becoming the market leader in this region," explains Holger Morhart, Business Director of Evonik Acrylics Africa. In May 2012, to this end, Evonik entered into a joint venture with the South African plastics processor Ampaglas Plastics Group, one of the largest manufacturers of extruded plastics in Southern Africa. Since then, the partners have further expanded the distribution network under the name Evonik Acrylics Africa. Production will begin now in August at the plant in Elandsfontein.

As a key sales market in Southern Africa, the major market segments are construction and architecture, signage, lighting technologies, and furniture, shopfitting, and exhibition stand construction. Due to its material properties, PLEXIGLAS? is particularly well suited to the intense solar radiation in the region: UV radiation causes plastic to become yellow and brittle—thanks to its special chemical composition, PLEXIGLAS? is protected from this and at the same time enables a high degree of light transmission.

Evonik guarantees that semi-finished colorless PLEXIGLAS? will remain free from yellowing for up to 30 years; for colored products, color fastness will remain for up to ten years. The material can be processed in all conventional thermoplastic processes and is 100 percent recyclable.

Evonik Industries is a worldwide manufacturer of PMMA products sold under the PLEXIGLAS? trademark on the European, Asian, African and Australian continents and under the ACRYLITE? trademark in the Americas. In May 2012 Evonik Industries AG established the Evonik Acrylics Africa (EAA) joint venture together with the South African plastics processor, Ampaglas Plastics Group. The joint venture is based in Elandsfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa. Evonik holds a 51 percent stake. The aim of the joint venture is to produce high-quality PLEXIGLAS? sheets and market them in particular in the growing markets of the African continent. The focus here lies on the construction and architecture market segments and the design-oriented segments of lighting technologies as well as furniture, shopfitting, and exhibition stand construction.