Domo Chemicals Building New Nylon Compounding Operation in China

Ludovic Tonnerre, managing director Domo Engineering Plastic Asia, said at the Chinaplas 2015 Media Day in Guangzhou that the greenfield site, which will cover 2500 sq m once completed, will run four extrusion lines and make Domo’s full range of nylon 6 and 6/6 compounds. This year, the company plans on having 10,000 m.t./yr capacity, ramping up to 15,000 m.t. in 2016 ad the full 20,000 m.t./yr in 2019.

Domo materials to be produced in Jiaxing will include its Domamid high-temperature nylon 6, 6/6 compounds, as well as its Econamid and Econamid Oro range of materials based on post-industrial nylon waste.

To secure a consistent stream of high-quality post-industrial nylon waste, Domo has actually acquired two companies that consume the material in recent years: nylon fiber producer Aquafil Engineering Plastics in 2013 and nylon film manufacturer Caffaro Flexible Packaging Film in 2014.

Tonnerre noted that auto makers, for example, are extremely interested in the Domamid line on the basis of its smaller ecological footprint. According to Domo, compared to virgin nylon, Econamid offers a 75% to 90% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, with a 49% to 65% reduction in gross energy requirements, and total resource reduction of between 39% to 62%. 

The facility is located in the CECEP industrial park, which stresses sustainable production practices. As a result, the new Domo operation will feature water treatment, solar panel power generation, and air filtering, among other ecofriendly measures.