SHANGHAI - Evonik has completed the construction and commissioning of a new pilot plant for precious metal powder catalysts (PMPC) at its production site in Shanghai.

The set-up is analogous to the existing commercial production plant operating since July 2010 at Evonik’s Xinzhuang site in Shanghai. The purpose of the pilot plant is to accelerate the upscaling process for commercial catalysts and to quickly provide pilot-scale PMPC for customer projects. After opening a new R&D and Technical Service lab for catalysts at the Shanghai site in 2014, the pilot plant represents Evonik’s next step in its commitment to the local catalyst market, strengthening its position to meet the growing demand for PMPC in China.

"The pilot plant together with R&D/Technical Service lab represents an important milestone for our operations in China. We now have the complete range for providing catalyst samples and commercial products from lab, pilot-scale, production-scale locally on site,” said Dr. Harald Seiler, General Manager Business Line Catalysts Greater China.

Precious metal powder catalysts are mostly used in the life sciences and fine chemicals market segment in China. They are sold under Evonik’s Noblyst^® brand. With the new pilot plant, Evonik offers customers higher flexibility, shorter turnaround time and customized solutions for developing and manufacturing pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals and also industrial chemicals in the Greater China region.