Avantium held its first Technology & Markets Day titled “Path to a fossil-free world” yesterday at the company’s headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The management team provided an update on the strategy of Avantium and its technologies, including the strategy for Synvina and commercialization of PEF.

Avantium announced that it intends to build a cash-flow positive flagship plant with a planned annual capacity of 5,000 tons of FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid) and PEF (polyethylene furanoate) slated to start-up in 2023.  The plant will produce materials for high-value markets and performance applications such as high-barrier films and specialty bottles.  The design of the flagship plant has already started and Avantium commissioned Worley (formerly Jacobs Engineering) to execute the detailed engineering studies. Site selection in northwestern continental Europe is expected to be completed in the second half of 2019.

Avantium said it will maintain control of the flagship plant and licensing business of YXY, while building a network of committed partners throughout the value chain. The investment decision for construction of the plant is planned for the end of 2020.

Avantium has also renamed the Synvina business unit to Avantium Renewable Polymers, which will operate under the Avantium brand.