Solvay expands Application Development Center in Bollate, Italy to boost OEMs’ engine and powertrain fluid handling components innovation

Bollate, ITALY, Oct. 17, 2018 --- Solvay, a leading global supplier of specialty polymers, has further invested in the Application Development Center at its Bollate, Italy facility to support the growth of its automotive customers in the EMEA. To meet ever challenging OEM fluid handling component development requirements, Solvay has added new state-of-the-art extrusion equipment alongside advanced injection molding processing capabilities.

The recent development and introduction of a game-changing series of Ryton® polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) extrusion grades now offers OEMs an exciting opportunity to design streamlined, lightweight and integrated engine and powertrain fluid handling systems.

“Combining the new Ryton® PPS extrusion grades with commercial Ryton® PPS injection molding materials for custom designed brackets and connectors provides cost reduction through simplified design and manufacturing when replacing metal and rubber mixed solutions,” said Mark Wright, global automotive market manager for Solvay’s Specialty Polymers global business unit. “But more importantly, it better meets the technical requirements of today’s thermal management systems to replace incumbent solutions, such as polyamides, which cannot meet the increased mechanical and thermal performance levels in the extreme heat of a reduced engine compartment.”   

To speed application development and time to market, Solvay provides tiers and OEM customers a dedicated fluid-handling design laboratory offering all aspects of application development from part design to prototype cooling line extrusion. It also includes post-extrusion thermoforming trials of tubing to help optimize space in the constrained engine bay.

“When we solve problems for our customers, Solvay grows,” said Mike Finelli, president of Solvay’s Specialty Polymers global business unit. “By creating a dedicated facility to support the developing technology of our automotive customers, we strengthen our position as an industry leader in advanced materials and solutions to generate long-term growth and contribute to a more sustainable world.”

Solvay manufactures a broad portfolio of advanced specialty polymers for the automotive industry, which relies increasingly on sophisticated lightweighting materials solutions to replace metals in automotive exterior/interior and underhood applications to enable the industry to comply with tougher fuel and emission regulations.

® Ryton is a registered trademark of Solvay.

Solvay is an advanced materials and specialty chemicals company, committed to developing chemistry that addresses key societal challenges. Solvay innovates and partners with customers worldwide in many diverse end markets. Its products are used in planes, cars, batteries, smart and medical devices, as well as in mineral and oil and gas extraction, enhancing efficiency and sustainability. Its lightweighting materials promote cleaner mobility, its formulations optimize the use of resources and its performance chemicals improve air and water quality. Solvay is headquartered in Brussels with around 26,800 employees in 61 countries. Net sales were €10.1 billion in 2017, with 90% from activities where Solvay ranks among the world’s top 3 leaders, resulting in an EBITDA margin of 22%. Solvay SA (SOLB.BE) is listed on Euronext Brussels and Paris (Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLB.BR) and in the United States its shares (SOLVY) are traded through a level-1 ADR program. Financial figures take into account the announced divestment of Polyamides.

Solvay Specialty Polymers manufactures over 1500 products across 35 brands of high-performance polymers – fluoropolymers, fluoroelastomers, fluorinated fluids, semi-aromatic polyamides, sulfone polymers, ultra-high performance aromatic polymers, and high‑barrier polymers – for use in Aerospace, Alternative Energy, Automotive, Healthcare, Membranes, Oil and Gas, Packaging, Plumbing, Semiconductors, Wire & Cable, and other industries. Learn more at www.solvayspecialtypolymers.com.