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New Partnership with Aonix Advanced Materials Expected to Accelerate Commercialization of Mass-Produced Thermoplastic Composites
DÜSSELDORF, Germany, October 21, 2013 – Solvay Specialty Polymers has reached an agreement to acquire a financial interest in Aonix Advanced Materials, based in Ottawa, ON, Canada, a leading developer of advanced composite materials and manufacturing systems. Solvay will partner with Aonix to accelerate the development and commercialization of mass-produced, thermoplastic composites made of Solvay’s high-performance polymers for end-use markets including mobile electronics, automotive, oil and gas, and sporting goods. A final agreement is expected to close in late November. Solvay made the announcement at K 2013 (Hall 6 Stand C61), the 19th International Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber Worldwide, which runs Oct. 16-23, in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The investment demonstrates Solvay’s strong commitment to the composites market and provides a channel for its polymers to play a key role in this fast-growing segment. The partnership will target Solvay’s full range of high-performance polymers. However, the agreement won’t affect developments involving KetaSpire® PEEK with other companies.
“This unique collaboration will bring together two world-class companies focused on meeting the growing global demand for lightweight, stiff, strong, and recyclable composite materials,” said Armin Klesing, business development manager for aerospace and composites for Solvay Specialty Polymers. “We’re excited about the composites market and Aonix’s potential to deliver cutting-edge composite systems with significant benefits over conventional epoxy-based systems in high-volume production.”
“We see valuable synergies resulting from this partnership,” said Jerome Le Corvec, president and CEO of Aonix Advanced Materials. “Our expertise in composites formulation and fabrication and Solvay’s industry-leading position in high-performance polymers creates a strong team capable of opening up new doors in the advanced thermoplastic composites arena.”
The partnership will focus on the use of Solvay’s high-performance thermoplastics as a matrix as well as overmolding polymers which are particularly suited for these advanced composite applications due to their strong mechanical properties, superior damage tolerance, and chemical resistance. A key processing advantage is their faster cycle times compared to thermoset systems such as epoxy, particularly in high-volume fabrication. These composites are reinforced with glass fiber, aramid fiber, or carbon fiber.
Aonix offers a range of proprietary UltraMaterialsTM, a range of thermoplastic formulations that are used to create new classes of composite materials with superior performance, high-volume output, and recyclability versus conventional composites. The company accelerates commercial development by performing all formulation, prepreg, prototyping, testing, and validation for the customer. Aonix’s turnkey solution also includes purpose-built, automated manufacturing systems that are fully optimized for high-volume/low-cost production, eliminating the labor-intensive processes of traditional composites manufacturing.
“We expect our partnership to capitalize on the integrated value chain - from material formulation to component manufacturing,” said Klesing. Work on commercial applications is underway in a range of end-use markets.
About Aonix Advanced Materials
Aonix Advanced Materials, based in Ottawa, ON, Canada, is a global leader in creating multi-dimensional innovative products and processes with advanced composite materials and automation. The company is led by Jérôme Le Corvec who has developed a reputation worldwide for creative and practical solutions for design, engineering, and mass production of technology goods. Through a unique innovation platform, Aonix Advanced Materials designs, manufactures, patents, and licenses new technologies that generate long-term value for its clients and shareholders. For more information, visit www.aonixcorp.com.
About Solvay Specialty Polymers
Solvay Specialty Polymers manufactures over 1500 products across 35 brands of high-performance polymers – fluoropolymers, fluoroelastomers, fluorinated fluids, semi-aromatic polyamides, sulfone polymers, aromatic ultra polymers, high-barrier polymers and cross-linked high-performance compounds – for use in Aerospace, Alternative Energy, Automotive, Healthcare, Membranes, Oil and Gas, Packaging, Plumbing, Semiconductors, Wire and Cable, and other industries.
As an international chemical group, SOLVAY assists industries in finding and implementing ever more responsible and value-creating solutions. The Group is firmly committed to sustainable development and focused on innovation and operational excellence. Solvay serves diversified markets, generating 90% of its turnover in activities where it is one of the top three worldwide. The group is headquartered in Brussels, employs about 29,000 people in 55 countries and generated 12.4 billion euros in net sales in 2012. Solvay SA SOLB.BE) is listed on NYSE Euronext in Brussels and Paris (Bloomberg: SOLB.BB- Reuters: SOLBt.BR).
