EDMONTON, ALBERTA, Canada -- Celanese Corporation, one of the global technology and specialty materials companies and North American leaders in Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) polymers, announced that due to strong growth in strategic, high-value segments, the company will expand capacity at its Edmonton manufacturing facility.

Global EVA production increases are fueled by growth in the photovoltaic cell industry in China and strong demand for EVA in other parts of Asia. Furthermore, Celaneses EVA business continues to create demand for EVA in innovative applications like controlled-release excipients and medical packaging.

The company is expected to increase capacity by up to 15 percent for higher vinyl acetate content EVA grades at the Edmonton facility in the second half of 2011. With Celaneses unique technology advantage, which allows it to produce a wide range of high value added EVA products, the company is positioned to satisfy the needs of new high-growth applications.

"This capacity expansion supports our strategy of geographic growth and delivering specialty products and solutions to our customers and enhances our ability to support customer growth globally," said Mark Murray, General Manager, Celanese EVA Performance Polymers. "As global EVA demand in multiple end-use applications increases, Celanese is making strategic investments to continue supporting the needs of industrial and consumer manufacturers worldwide."

Celaneses facility in Edmonton has been a leading EVA producer for more than 50 years with the newest high pressure EVA resin production technology in North America. The plants diverse reactor capabilities and unique footprint allow for a more customized approach to product manufacturing with the flexibility to produce a full range of EVA copolymers, specialty LDPE (low density polyethylene) and compounds for a wide range of end uses.