SolVin to increase PVDC production

The joint venture company owned by chemical and pharmaceutical company Solvay and chemical company BASF, will build a new production line at the site which will increase annual capacity of PVDC latex by 10,000 tons. PVDC latex is a speciality barrier material used as a coating in packaging applications where the integrity of the goods is critical as it resists water vapour, oxygen, oils, greases, chemicals, and other gases and odours. SolVin's move to expand is in response to the growing demand from the PVDC market. "Demand is growing rapidly,"​ SolVin spokesman Martial Tardy told in-PharmaTechnologist.com. "One of the factors of demand stems from the pharmaceutical industry, whose increased globalisation generates a need for a packaging product which can be implemented worldwide. The outstanding barrier properties of PVDC allow it to preserve the integrity of medicines in all climates and all conditions of ambient humidity,"​ he said. Construction, the cost of which is undisclosed, is expected to begin "as soon as possible"​ with the plant operational by mid-2009. The new production line will benefit from full upstream integration of raw materials. "With this new production line, SolVin will maintain its commercial and technological leadership as well as its global reputation of excellence in the PVDC market. We will continue serving our clients' expansion, while contributing to Solvay's strategy of sustainable and profitable growth in the specialty polymers business,"​ Solvay specialty polymers strategic business unit general manager Vincenzo Morici said in a statement. "The choice of creating a new line in Tavaux is also an advantageous solution in terms of timing and competitiveness, thanks to a seamless upstream integration. This will provide SolVin with an appropriate competitive position to access the emerging markets in Asia and NAFTA." ​ Beside the French expansion, SolVin is planning to strengthen its logistics to improve its service to the Asian market and is looking at opportunities to develop new production sites in Asia and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) countries, pending further developments in the PVDC market. Solvay owns 75 per cent of SolVin, with BASF owning the other 25 per cent.