July 21 2014 - New Plant press release

DSM to invest in a new plant for film and other extrusion applications in North America

Royal DSM announced that the company is to invest in a new polymerization plant in North America to manufacture Akulon polyamide 6 polymer for film grades used in flexible food packaging and other segments.

With these high viscosity extrusion grades of Akulon polyamide 6 (PA6), DSM provides solutions to the world's growing food packaging industry. Roughly 1.3 billion tons of food is lost or wasted worldwide every year, mostly in industrialized countries (1). In North America 40% of the food loss occurs at retail and consumer levels and this is where better packaging can make a difference. Flexible films based on Akulon polyamide 6, with its strong barrier against oxygen and aromas and exceptional mechanical strength and durability, will help to reduce food lost or wasted during its journey from farm to fork.

"This new plant is our first polymerization plant for high viscosity grades in North America for Akulon polyamide 6, besides our existing infrastructure in Europe and Asia. It thus fits perfectly with our growth strategy for Materials Sciences, as it strengthens our global position in PA6 based films. This investment is also a demonstration of DSM's strong commitment to both our global and North American customers and supports our further growth ambitions in the Americas for engineering plastics." comments Roelof Westerbeek, President DSM Engineering Plastics.

Richard Pieters, President DSM Engineering Plastics Americas, states: "We are determined to grow further in the packaging industry where we have already proven to meet our customers' demand with our in-depth application know how and innovative solutions. Adding locally produced Akulon polyamide 6 grades for film to our North American portfolio complements our offering and strengthens our position to optimally serve our global and local customers." He concludes: "In addition to Akulon and Novamid 6 and 6,66 polyamides, DSM serves customers with a range of specialty high performance engineering plastics including Arnitel TPC copolyester, Arnite PBT and PET polyesters, Stanyl high performance polyamide 46 and 4T, and our bio-based engineering plastics EcoPaXX polyamide 410 and Arnitel Eco copolyester."

With construction scheduled to start in Q4 2014 and completion targeted for mid-2016, site locations for the plant are currently being evaluated.

1 Global Food Losses and Food Waste, SIK, Gustavsson et al, 2011

ENDS

More information can be found at www.dsm.com/packaging and www.akulon.com.

DSM - Bright Science. Brighter Living.
Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders simultaneously. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM's 24,500 employees deliver annual net sales of around €10 billion. The company is listed on NYSE Euronext. More information can be found at www.dsm.com

If you require additional information or high quality graphics please do not hesitate to contact:

Paula Wolfe
DSM Engineering Plastics
t +1 812 435 7539
f +1 812 435 7702
Paula.wolfe@dsm.com

Inka Finne
EMG
t +31 164 317 019
f +31 164 317 039
ifinne@emg-pr.com

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