An unexpected source has stepped forward to perhaps help prevent the complete shutdown of the automotive industry due to the effects of a resin shortage which threatens to cripple all global automotive production.
Invista Inc., the company that makes Stainmaster carpet, claims that they are capable of producing Cyclododecatriene, a chemical which is the key ingredient of PA-12 a special type of automotive resin. In a statement released earlier today, Invista confirmed that the company’s Victoria, Texas facility is able to leverage some of its excess capacity to produce the chemical which is also known in the industry as CDT.
“We’re doing what we can to fill the immediate need,” stated Jodie Stutzman, manager of external and business communications at Invista during a brief interview with the folks at Automotive News. ” The CDT operations we have are running hard and we’re working to make available as much of the material as possible right now.” In addition to Invista’s efforts at combating the problem, chemical firm DuPont is also increasing its production of its Delrin, Zytel, and Hytrel polymer brands as a response to the upcoming shortage of PA-12.
The shortage and the subsequent efforts at finding an alternative source of CDT is the direct result of a massive March 31 explosion at a chemical plant owned by Evonik Industries AG, which is the worlds largest producer of the chemical. Evonik has stated that it could take several months before production at the stricken plant can fully resume. This statement also prompted many of the worlds automakers to take part in an emergency summit meeting to address the problem.
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