Ascend: Innovative products help customers achieve carbon neutrality

As the world's largest, highest level and most professional representative plastics industry exhibition, 2022K exhibition was held
in Düsseldorf, Germany on October 19~26.
Under the theme "Together Together", Ascend Performance Materials presented a range of innovative material products and sustainable solutions
at K.
Our reporter recently conducted a remote interview
with Dr.
Wu Xianliang, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Ascend Asia Pacific, Dr.
Qin Huaili, Technical Director of Ascend Asia Pacific, and Yuan Jun, Commercial Director of Engineering Materials of Ascend Asia Pacific.

Collaborate with customers to achieve a low-carbon footprint

Wu Xianliang introduced that as a professional manufacturer of engineering materials, Ascend is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2030, and Ascend is confident that it will achieve this goal
ahead of schedule.

Currently, Ascend has invested more than $200 million in sustainable projects, including the combined heat and power plant at the Decatur site, Chocolate Bayou's acrylonitrile production site is solar-powered, Pensacola production site is equipped for optimized energy use and emission reduction, and Suzhou production site is upgraded wastewater treatment and power saving equipment
.
These large-scale asset investment projects are doing their best to reduce the environmental impact
of production operations.

Regarding the goal of achieving carbon neutrality, Wu Xianliang said that Ascend has achieved carbon neutrality in all seven modified material production sites around the world, and has also become the first integrated polyamide 66 (PA66) producer to achieve decarbonization in key production operations, while obtaining ISCC+ certification
for bio-based raw materials.
Ascend is also constantly developing new products to help customers reduce their carbon footprint
.

Innovative products for sustainable development

At K, Ascend presented a range of innovative products to support the sustainability
of its customers.
Yuan Jun said that first of all, Ascend officially launched ReDefyne recycled polyamide series products, which can be customized according to customer requirements, and the utilization rate of recycled materials can reach up to 100%.

Secondly, Ascend is developing some bio-based PA66 products and will launch some bio-based intermediates, PA66 resins and engineering materials
in the near future.
Finally, Ascend's new products will continue to focus on "steel instead of plastic"
.
Panduit's new engineering material Panduit, Vydyne, was introduced at the show AVS vibration and noise reduction polyamide can be applied to engine mount brackets, gearbox brackets, battery brackets and other components of new energy vehicles and fuel vehicles, which can reduce weight by 40%~60% and reduce noise by up to 80%.

In addition, Ascend also launched Starflam X-Protect cross-linked polyamide
.
Compared with traditional engineering materials or aluminum materials, it has better extreme fire resistance and high temperature resistance, and can provide better protection performance
on new energy vehicles and higher voltage electrical materials.
At the same time, Ascend also has another ultra-high temperature resistant polyamide, HiDURA ThermaPlus is expected to be the material
of choice for high-temperature cable ties and fasteners.

Qin Huaili also said that Ascend's new Asia-Pacific Innovation Center in Changshu was officially put into operation
in April this year.
The center can respond faster to the needs of local and Asian customers, and develop new products according to customers' individual needs, support the local production of global products, etc
.
At present, the center has commercialized a number of products to serve local customers
.

Confidence in the Chinese market has not changed

Speaking about the operating performance in the first half of the year, Wu Xianliang said that like other companies, Ascend has encountered certain challenges, but the business is still growing
steadily.
This year's automotive business has seen considerable growth compared to the same period last year, especially the electric vehicle business, which is the fastest growing area
of Ascend.

Wu Xianliang stressed that Ascend's confidence in Asia and China has not changed
.
"As the epidemic gets better and better, the economy will gradually recover
.
Overall, Ascend believes that the economy will be better
next year and the year after.
Wu Xianliang said that so far this year, Ascend has still grown steadily in the Chinese market, which is why Ascend continues to invest in Lianyungang
.
At present, the construction of the hexanediamine plant in Lianyungang is in full swing, and it is expected to be officially put into operation
by the end of 2023.
In addition, Ascend has added two new lines to its Changshu plant in Suzhou and now has four production lines
.