Polykemi: Swedish compounder announces expansion of US capacity

The projected expansion of the current two extruder lines with an additional line will probably begin as early as next year - (Picture: Polykemi).

The Swedish company Polykemi is pushing ahead with its expansion in the North American market. According to the company, just two years after starting production in the US, there has already been a significant increase in personnel and capacity in order to meet the growing demand for customer-specific plastic compounds.

Stronger demand leads to earlier staff expansion
Since production began in the summer of 2023, Polykemi has seen steadily growing demand in North America. Contrary to the original plans, new employees have already been hired for key positions in sales and customer support. In the USA, Sonny Nos and Joon Park are strengthening the sales team. Nos will focus on acquiring new customers in the south-east of the United States, while Park will primarily be responsible for customer contacts in the South Korean automotive industry. In Mexico, Octavio Ibarra Magallon will take on customer support tasks and, among other things, support sales activities in the USA.

Unexpected market access and faster market development
Market development has been faster than the company expected. In addition to existing customer relationships that were transferred from locations in Europe and China to the US market, additional market segments have been opened up. Particularly noteworthy is the unexpected interest from the construction industry – especially from manufacturers in the field of flood and storm water protection. Cooperation with US vehicle manufacturers has also developed faster than predicted.

Production expansion planned by 2027
The US plant currently has two extrusion lines with an annual capacity of around 7,000 US tonnes. Due to the positive development, Polykemi plans to start planning a third line as early as 2026. Commissioning is scheduled for 2027. This would mean an increase in capacity of around 50 per cent.

Focus on long-term expansion
With the expanded production capacity and increase in personnel, Polykemi is pursuing the goal of increasing security of supply for existing customers while tapping into new markets in North America. Developments show that the entry into the region is bearing fruit much faster than predicted.

More information: www.polykemi.com, www.polykemi.de

Polykemi AB, Ystad, Sweden

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