Setting our sights on growth

• PMMA capacity expansion in Worms
• High level of flexibility and delivery security thanks to regional organization

The Röhm GmbH is expanding its activities in Europe. The company invests a double-digit million amount in the expansion of a production plant for PLEXIGLAS® (branded in the Americas as ACRYLITE®) molding compounds in Worms (Germany). Further global growth projects are in planning. “With the capacity expansion, we are reacting to the growing demand for our products and we will strengthen our supply security for our customers long term”, says COO Hans-Peter Hauck.

Röhm’s branded polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is an in-demand raw material in countless growing sectors, such as the automotive, construction and lighting industries as well as for domestic appliances. This is because PLEXIGLAS® is especially well-suited for applications where durability, resistance to weather and UV, color fastness, high luminosity and transparency as well as hardness and scratch-resistance are key.

Röhm supports automotive innovations

Röhm’s PLEXIGLAS® molding compounds make the company a European market leader. “Expanding the capacity of our PMMA production plant in Worms allows us to extend our lead in the market”, says Siamak Djafarian, Senior Vice President Business Unit Molding Compounds. Röhm wants to support its automotive customers in their development efforts. “Trends like electromobility and self-driving cars place new demands on automotive applications which we will meet with our high-quality PLEXIGLAS® molding compounds”, says Djafarian.

In addition to expanding capacity – which is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2023 – the production process in the plant in Worms will be optimized and an energy efficient process will be established. “Sustainability is an integral part of our business strategy”, says Hauck. “With our green compounding technology, we are lowering our eco-footprint.”

“Thanks to our regional organization and our global group structure we have the required flexibility to supply our customers quickly and reliably”, says Hans-Peter Hauck. In June, Röhm announced the construction of a large-scale plant for methyl methacrylates (MMA), an important precursor of PMMA. The plant to be located on America’s Gulf Coast will be the first of its kind to implement the newly developed LiMA technology. “We have set our sights on growth."