Expansions: Invista to invest US$17 mn to restart HMD plant in Canada; Trelleborg opens R&D facility in India

Chemical firm Invista has announced plans to invest around US$17 million to restart its Hexamethylene Diamine (HMD) plant at the Maitland site in Ontario, Canada, which was closed in 2009.

HMD is a key ingredient in the production of nylon 6,6, a high-performance polymer that is used in a variety of applications, such as automotive, industrial, apparel and consumer goods.

Upon regulatory approval, the project construction could begin, and the HMD plant could start production in the first quarter of 2025. The project announcement was made by Francis Murphy, Invista President/CEO, during remarks to local employees as part of a celebration marking 20 years as a Koch company.

“We’re proud of our 71-year history of operating in the Maitland community,” said Matt Murton, Maitland Plant Manager. “As we celebrate our past, we’re looking forward to continued investment and innovation as we strive to transform our competitiveness for the future.”

Invista Maitland employs 95 people full-time, and while it will “definitely” add employment with the HMD restart, it’s too early to estimate how many new jobs will be created.

The decision to restart HMD in Maitland follows the closure of a Texas plant, said Murton. Along with the new jobs, the investment is an important sign of the local plant’s competitiveness, he added.

Murton said the work will involve retrofitting and repurposing the old HMD equipment to bring it up to current standards.

The regulatory approval must come from the province’s environment ministry, said Murton, who was not sure about the timeline.

In other news, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has inaugurated a new R&D facility providing local innovation backed by global expertise in Bangalore, India.

The new facility is a hub for innovation, focusing on research tailored to meet the specific needs of the regional market. Expanding Trelleborg’s presence in the region, it strengthens partnerships with local industries while enhancing responsiveness and competence in the dynamic market landscape in Asia-Pacific. It focuses on a range of advanced sealing technologies, including both material and design innovations. Teams of researchers and engineers will work on developing new solutions that address sector-specific challenges faced by various industries including hydraulics, off-highway and industrial automation.

Initially the R&D centre will focus on analysing the physical characteristics like tensile strength, elongation, modulus and tear strength of elastomer compounds, in addition to compatibility of high-performance materials with critical application fluids. Equipment includes aging ovens to conduct compatibility studies in air and fluid media which allows Trelleborg to examine the compatibility of materials with customer-specific fluids, whether locally procured or sourced from global labs.

Future plans include incorporating additional capabilities like analytical testing, benchmark analysis and product testing. It will also support local sales and manufacturing teams during failure analysis or with customer feedback, enhancing the company’s ability to serve customers and improve products. The additional capabilities supplement existing local engineering, simulation and design competence.

Ranjan Sen, Managing Director Industrial Asia Pacific, says: “This reflects our dedication to building robust relationships with local companies and industries. We're focused on delivering tailored, high-quality solutions that meet the specific needs of the Indian market, including the demand for durable solutions with long lifetimes. Our aim is to be a trusted partner and a key contributor to the growth and success of our customers in India.”

The investment demonstrates Trelleborg's strong commitment to the Indian market, bringing advanced research capabilities closer to customers to enable quicker and better support, it said.

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