Perstorp (Perstorp / Sweden; www.perstorp.com) has announced plans to expand capacity of its non-phthalate polyester plasticiser “Pevalen” (pentaerythritol tetravalerate) from 2019 onwards to meet an anticipated global growth in demand. The Swedish speciality chemicals company has entered into a long-term agreement with Italian firm Alcoplast, formerly Polialcoli, to more than double capacity to 50,000 t/y.

“Global demand for non-phthalate plasticisers is predicted to continue to grow with about 100,000 t per year,” said Markus Jönsson, vice president plasticisers at Perstorp, who added that Pevalen’s favourable sustainability profile was proving to be an increasingly important factor for customers in choosing the plasticiser. “In the recent past, satisfying the market demand has been very challenging. In addition, the partnership with Alcoplast will enable us to add other complementary plasticisers to our portfolio,” he said.

Perstorp is already planning further investments to raise capacity of Pevalen beyond 100,000 t/y and said these will be timed to meet future market demand.

According to Italian media reports, Alcoplast agreed at the beginning of August 2018 to take over the Swedish group’s ex-Polioli plant in Vercelli / Italy, avoiding the facility’s closure. The Swedish company acquired Polialcoli, based in Cologno Menzesse / Italy, and the Vercelli site from bankrupt Polioli in 2017 – see Plasteurope.com of 13.07.2017.