Evonik invests in capacity expansion for oil additives

Germany’s Evonik, a leading provider of oil additives, is increasing its production capabilities for polyalkylmethacrylate (PAMA)-based viscosity modifiers to meet rising demand. 

The increase of its production capabilities will be realized through plant expansion projects and debottlenecking operations. Evonik has a global production footprint, with plants in Europe (Darmstadt and Weiterstadt, Germany; Lauterbourg, France), Asia (Singapore; Shanghai, China), and North America (Mobile, Alabama, U.S.A.; Houston, Texas, U.S.A.; Morrisburg, Ontario, Canada). The completion of the projects will expand the company’s annual PAMA capacity by 15%.  Half of this capacity increase is already implemented; the remainder is scheduled for completion in 2021.

The expanded production capacity is associated with Evonik’s efforts to consistently grow its oil additives business for specialty applications.

“Increasing our production capacity shows our commitment to providing the lubricants industry with technology that significantly contributes to efficiency gains for our customers serving the automotive and industrial markets,” said Doris Schmidt, senior vice president of Oil Additives Business Line at Evonik Resource Efficiency Segment. 

Evonik’s DRIVON™ and NUFLUX™ technologies improve fuel and energy efficiency in engine oils, driveline fluids and gear oils. Industrial and off-highway equipment achieve fuel and energy savings and increased productivity with DYNAVIS® technology for hydraulic fluids.

The oil additives business also specializes in high-performance additives and technologies for fuels and refinery products. Evonik’s VISCOPLEX® cold flow improvers (CFIs) provide outstanding flow properties for biofuels in any region or season. VISCOPLEX® crude oil paraffin inhibitors (COPIs) maintain oil flow by modifying the size and shape of the wax crystals within the oil, dispersing them and preventing them from adhering to pipeline or transporting vessel surfaces.