The National Methanol Company (IBN SINA), a manufacturing affiliate of the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), has started up its polyacetal facility in Jubail which is the first plant in the Middle East and Africa.
Polyacetal is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic material that has the potential to replace metal in many applications due to its high strength and ease of machining. It has several automotive applications such as in safety-belt systems and window lift mechanisms. In building and construction, its applications include bathroom parts, such as showerheads and pipe couplings.
“The start-up of the polyacetal plant is yet another milestone in SABIC’s growth strategy in a highly competitive specialty plastics market,” said SABIC executive vice president Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh.
The polyacetal project was launched in 2010 when SABIC concluded an agreement with the Celanese Corporation for the construction of a 50,000 ton polyacetal production facility at Ibn Sina.
