The 60 000 t/a polyoxymethylene (POM) project of China Bluestar started construction in Shanghai Xinghuo Development Zone on March 25. The launching of the project is another important move in the vigorous development of the chemical new materials sector in the company and also a measure taken by Shanghai Solvent Plant in the support of the World Expo to be held in Shanghai and in the effort to do relocation and renovation, divide one plant into two plants, conduct product upgrading, readjust industrial structure and alleviate difficulty through reform.
       POM resin is one of the most comprehensive applied engineering plastics with methanol as a key raw material. It is a high-tech incentive fine chemical product. It has excellent both of mechanical and electric properties, as well as good abrasion resistance and chemical resistance, and is therefore a thermoplastic resin with unique comprehensive properties. POM is an ideal engineering plastic that can replace nonferrous metals such as copper, aluminum and zinc and their alloys. It is extensively used in electronic/electric, mechanical processing, automobile manufacturing and apparatus/instrument sectors. It has always held the fame of "metal in plastics".
        With the development of the domestic economy and the requirement on chemical new materials in new economic sectors, the consumption of POM in China is making a rapid growth. During the 10 years from 1992 to 2001 the consumption of POM in the domestic market increased from 16 000 tons to 100 000 tons a year. It is expected that the consumption will reach 170 000 tons in 2005. The development of the POM sector in China started as early as the 1950s. Due to restrictions from factors such as production scale and technology, however, the output of POM in China is less than 70 000 tons a year today, falling far short of the demand.
        China Bluestar has been developing the production and research of POM since late  1990s. With the 1 900 t/a production unit in its subordinate Shanghai Solvent Plant as the basis, an advanced copolymerized POM production process route with more extensive applications has finally been developed. The project has a total investment of RMB910 million. Partial equipment will be introduced from abroad and a 60 000 t/a copolymerized POM unit will be constructed. The project will enable the corporation to fully employ the advantage in scale of economics and sharpen the competitive edge of products. After the completion of the project, the sales revenue is expected to increase by RMB840 million and a net profit of over RMB100 million will be accomplished a year. The corporation will become the biggest POM producer in China. Besides, the project will also further strengthen the main force of the corporation in the chemical new mate rials sector.