Evonik breaks ground for stretching and polishing plant forlarge-format PMMA aircraft materials• Start of construction on the new stretching and polishingplant at the Weiterstadt site
• Production of the world’s largest PMMA sheets for theaviation industry scheduled to start at the end of 2017

March 10, 2017
Mari Sugata
Regional communications
TEL +81 (0)3 5323-7319
FAX +81 (0)3 5323-7398
info-jp@evonik.com

Weiterstadt, Germany. Evonik marked the start of construction ofa new stretching and polishing plant at the Weiterstadt site with agroundbreaking ceremony on March 2. The Essen-based Group isinvesting a two-digit million euro amount in the plant. Thanks tosystematic forward integration, Evonik’s Performance Materials
Segment will then become a complete provider of cast andstretched polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) sheets for the aviationindustry.
The new plant will be the most advanced of its kind in the world
for production of stretched aircraft materials made fromPLEXIGLAS®. It is being constructed directly next to the existingproduction facility for the cast PMMA blocks that serve as theprimary products for the stretching process. The plant allows
production of stretched PMMA sheets that are more than twice aslarge as the currently available formats, yet satisfy the stringentstandards (Mil-P-25690 and EN 4366) of the aviation industry.
“The new plant fits perfectly with our position as a leading
supplier of polymer materials. It is the embodiment of ourexpertise in building complex technology platforms andintegrated structures and operating them efficiently. It also
indicates our commitment to serve the aviation industry as areliable partner,” said Dr. Michael Pack, member of theManagement Board of Evonik Performance Materials GmbH.
Compared with cast PMMA materials, stretched PMMA sheets havehigher impact strength and increased chemical resistance. The
material is therefore especially well-suited to meet the extremely
high requirements of the aviation industry.

Evonik Japan Co., Ltd.
Shinjuku Monolith 12F
2-3-1, Nishi-Shinjuku,
Shinjuku-ku

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Tokyo 163-0938
www.evonik.jp

While registering attractive growth, the market for stretchedaircraft materials is characterized by limited capacities on the partof suppliers.
“As the world’s only producer of these extra-large format
stretched PMMA sheets, we are once again living up to our claimof being an innovation leader in acrylic products. With ourPLEXIGLAS® brand we guarantee the highest possible quality andabsolute reliability,” says Martin Krämer, head of the Acrylic
Products Business Line. “The new plant is a concrete example of
how we’re putting our vision, ‘Evolution in acrylics is our passion’,into practice for the benefit of our customers.”
The aviation industry is gaining a double benefit from the newformat. For one thing, the new formats make production of
aircraft and helicopter glazing more efficient. In addition, entirely
new designs, such as particularly large cabin windows, are now
possible. “With our new plant, we’re supplying the largest sheets
available anywhere in the world with the lowest possible thickness
tolerances,” says Roland Mickal, head of the Transportation
market segment at Acrylic Products.
This is Evonik’s second investment in quick succession at theWeiterstadt site: The construction of a production plant for highgrade PMMA flat film was announced as recently as mid-February,
with investment again in the two-digit million range. “Both ofthese projects express our confidence in the sustainability of ourPLEXIGLAS® business. In the future we will systematically expand
our presence in markets of high growth potential, entirely inaccord with our aim of intelligently designing our chemicals
business,” says Pack.

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Caption:
PLEXIGLAS® GS 249 stretched for Passenger Cabin Windows(Evonik Industries)

Caption:Application of PLEXIGLAS® GS 249 stretched for windscreens andcanopys(Evonik Industries)

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About Acrylic Products
The Acrylic Products Business Line of Evonik’s Performance Materials Segment
manufactures the inspiring brand plastic PLEXIGLAS® and offers a wide range of
specialty semi-finished products for a variety of future-oriented applications.
Major markets for PLEXIGLAS® are the aviation industries, architecture and theconstruction industry, lighting and design applications, electronics andcommunication, furniture and exhibition booth construction as well as store
fixtures.
With production facilities in Europe, North America, South Africa and Russia anda global sales network, AP is one of the leading producers of polymethyl
methacrylate (PMMA) worldwide. In 2016, the business line’s roughly 900
employees generated sales of 363,2 million €.
Evonik’s PMMA products are sold under the PLEXIGLAS® trademark on theEuropean, Asian, African and Australian continents and under the ACRYLITE®
trademark in the Americas.
Company information
Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders inspecialty chemicals. Profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value ofthe company form the heart of Evonik’s corporate strategy. Evonik benefits
specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms.
Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world with more than 35,000
employees. In fiscal 2016 the enterprise generated sales of around €12,7 billion
and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of about €2.165 billion.
About Performance Materials
The Performance Materials Segment is managed by Evonik Performance Materials
GmbH. The segment focuses its global activities on developing andmanufacturing polymer materials and intermediates, especially for use inagriculture and in the rubber and plastics industry. In 2016, the segment’s
roughly 4,400 employees generated sales about €3.2 billion.
Disclaimer
In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or whereour statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements
may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results ordevelopments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment.
Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation toupdate the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.

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