Dutch firm DSM is investing in a new polymerisation plant in North America to manufacture Akulon polyamide 6 polymer for film grades used in flexible food packaging and other segments. Financial details of the investment will not be disclosed. Also not disclosed was the location with DSM stating, “with construction scheduled to start in Q4 2014 and completion targeted for mid-2016, site locations for the plant are currently being evaluated.”

With these high viscosity extrusion grades of Akulon polyamide 6 (PA6), DSM says it provides solutions to the world’s growing food packaging industry. Roughly 1.3 billion tonnes of food is lost or wasted worldwide every year, mostly in industrialized countries. In North America 40% of the food loss occurs at retail and consumer levels and this is where better packaging can make a difference.

“This new plant is our first polymerisation plant for high viscosity grades in North America for Akulon polyamide 6, besides our existing infrastructure in Europe and Asia. It thus fits perfectly with our growth strategy for Materials Sciences, as it strengthens our global position in PA6 based films. This investment is also a demonstration of DSM’s strong commitment to both our global and North American customers and supports our further growth ambitions in the Americas for engineering plastics.” comments Roelof Westerbeek, President DSM Engineering Plastics.

DSM also has an Akulon plant in China.