DIC Corporation will establish a new polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) product technical facility in Europe to reinforce its ability to address the technical requirements of its European customers. The investment in the European PPS Technical Center, estimated at approximately €2.7 million, will be located within the site occupied by Group company Sun Chemical’s Eurolab, in Karlstein, Germany. Doors are scheduled to open in November 2015.
 
PPS compounds are valued for their excellent heat, chemical and water resistance. With demand for use in automobiles, electrical and electronics equipment and household appliances rising, the global market for PPS compounds continues to grow by 6%–7% annually.
 
In the automotive industry, a key market for PPS compounds, the need to reduce vehicle weight, particularly for hybrid and electric vehicles, has accelerated a shift toward materials other than metal and encouraged engine downsizing, underpinning a dramatic increase in demand for materials that deliver PPS type performance features.
 
The DIC Group entered the European market for PPS products in 2003. Since then, the Group’s market share has risen steadily. In 2011, the Group acquired the PPS compounds business of a leading European chemicals manufacturer, while in 2012 it built a production facility for PPS compounds in Vienna, Austria, to round out its regional supply configuration.
 
With establishment of the PPS Technical Center in Europe, the DIC Group now has a global supply and technical services network for PPS compounds encompassing facilities in Japan, Malaysia, the PRC and Europe, further solidifying its market dominance as No.1 PPS Supplier worldwide.