Röhm, a German chemical company, announced Friday that North America’s first C2-based methyl methacrylate (MMA) production facility is now operating at full scale in Bay City. Advent International has invested about $1.6 billion in Röhm, supporting the company’s growth and the transfer of its technology to the U.S. through the Bay City plant.
MMA is a chemical used to make acrylic plastics, coatings, adhesives and resins, often for automotive, construction and medical technologies. The Bay City production plant employs about 90 people and has an annual MMA production capacity of 250,000 tons.
Company officials say the plant uses Röhm’s ‘Leading in MethAcrylates’ (LiMA) technology to cut energy and water use and reduce carbon emissions by up to 42 percent. Röhm says it’s the first time LiMA has operated at full industrial scale worldwide.
“LiMA technology does not only mark a technological quantum leap—it is a true game changer for the methacrylate industry,” Ronald Ayles of Advent International said in the release. “Bay City shows that this process can perform at industrial scale while delivering efficiency and environmentally friendly benefits.”
The plant uses a nearly closed water cycle with nearby constructed wetlands, according to the release, while digital systems help improve efficiency and sustainability. MMA produced at the Bay City plant is sold under the MERACRYL brand and shipped by truck, rail and inland waterways.
“This reflects our long‑term commitment to customers across the region, and Bay City’s strategic location allows us to efficiently serve both North American and global markets,” Jack Chenault, president of Röhm Americas, said in the release. “Safety is our top priority.”