Domo Chemicals a German based unique integrated Caprolactam and Nylon 6 specialist and the Refinery for central Germany, operated by French oil and gas giant Total plan to invest EUR 30m each in the production of benzene feedstock for caprolactam manufacture as well as a pipeline that will ensure its transport within eastern Germany.

Managers Luc de Raedt, of Domo Caproleuna, and Willi Frantz, of Total Leuna, said that the facilities are due to start up in autumn 2017. The investment gives them long-term access to a strategic feedstock for their integrated polyamide 6 production chain.

Total hopes the measure will reduce its dependence on fuel, consumption of which is declining in Europe. Total will initially produce 70,000 t/y of the feedstock, and is planning to build facilities to further concentrate the production of the chemical. The entire output will be sent via pipeline to PA producer Domo, which currently has demand for 180,000 t/y of benzene. The German producer presently sources its feedstock by railway.

Domo has capacities for 155,000 t/y of caprolactam as well as 80,000 t/y of PA 6 in Leuna. The site is also home to several intermediates plants, including for cumene and phenol. About one third of the PA 6 produced in Leuna consists of resin. The remainder goes into fibre production, mostly for carpets.

Domo Chemicals is part of Domo Investment Group, a value driven and family controlled investment company, that focuses on the sustainable international growth and value creation of its portfolio companies. It has facilities in Germany, Italy, China and USA. With a turnover of 900 million euro and 850 employees, Domo Chemicals continues to expand its business through focused investments in innovation, quality, modernization, efficiency and global growth.