RohMax, maker of Viscoplex-branded additives, yesterday opened its 10 million (U.S. $15.6 million) manufacturing facility on Jurong Island in Singapore. The lubricant additives plant is the companys first in Asia, where the automotive lubricants market is expanding fast.
Headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany, RohMax is a subsidiary of Essen, Germany-based Evonik Industries AG. RohMax first broke ground on the project in May 2007, and expected to employ about 30 to 40 people at the plant.
The newfacility will manufacture the companys Viscoplex lubricant additives for the Asia Pacific, Middle East and African markets.This plant is designed to support the growing demand for our Viscoplex products in Asia Pacific over the next 10 years, said Dirk Reese, managing director of Evonik RohMax Additives GmbH.
Eric Fillod, regional manager for Evonik Rohmax Asia Pacific Ptd Ltd., said the new plant and its laboratories represent a key pillar of the companys expansion plan in the Asia Pacific region. The company opened a technical center in Shanghai in 2005. By setting up our regional headquarters in Singapore, we benefit from this countrys dedicated support to the chemical industry, an ideal infrastructure and a highly skilled, multicultural workforce, Fillod said.
Asia is the fastest growing region for the automotive lubricant market, said Klaus Engel, member of the executive board of Evonik Industries, with responsibility for the chemicals business area. By bringing world-class expertise and best practices closer to customers here, we can improve collaboration with customers and partners to deliver innovative solutions.
The Viscoplex line, which uses polyalkyl methacrylate technology, includes viscosity index improvers and pour point depressants, each of which are polymers used to formulate multigrade engine oils, transmission fluids, hydraulic fluids, gear oils, other industrial lubricants and dewaxing aids.