Evonik recently announced that a fire broke out at its CDT (cyclododecatriene) plant on the grounds of the Marl Chemicals Park at 1:40 p.m. on March 31, killing two employees. Evonik reports it is supporting the authorities investigating the cause of the fire and has started its own examination through an independent expert.

CDT serves as a starting material in plastics manufacturing. It is used to make laurolactam, which, in turn, is used as a monomer in polyamide 12 (PA12). The incident thus affects the VESTAMID®, VESTAMELT®, VESTOSINT®, and VESTENAMER® product lines.

Plastic parts made of PA12 are key components in automobile production, in the photovoltaic industry and in offshore pipelines. Other major fields of application include the sporting goods and household goods industries.

Evonik reports it currently does not know the full extent of the damage. While the company says it expects substantial constraints with respect to its ability to provide supplies of CDT-based products, it is confident that alternative solutions can be provided.

For more information, visit www.evonik.com.