Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany; www.evonik.com) has begun construction of a new plant to produce Mepron in Mobile, Ala. Mepron is a special Evonik formulation of the amino acid methionine that is used in dairy cow nutrition. A special coating protects the amino acid from undesired degradation in the rumen. The new plant is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2015. The investment is in the low double-digit-million-euro range.
Evonik Executive Board member and chief operating officer Patrik Wohlhauser explains, "The investment strengthens our position as the world’s leading supplier of amino acids. We continue our strategy of offering amino acids also for special applications in addition to MetAMINO, which is used mainly in poultry and pig feed. This opens up new growth opportunities for our amino acid business."