Specialty materials firm Arkema announced Tuesday that it is progressing toward an opening date in the first half of 2022 for its new bio-based polyamide 11 production plant on Jurong Island in Singapore.

Once operational, the facility will be that world’s largest integrated bio-factory for high performance polymers, according to the company. The project will boost Arkema’s global polyamide 11 capacity by 50%.

“We are excited to maintain the momentum and speed of construction. After facing early challenges due to the global pandemic, we are operating at full strength and are now entering the peak construction phase with an estimated 2,000 workers on site during the summer months,” Erwoan Pezron, senior vice president, High Performance Polymers for Arkema, said in a company release. “The enthusiasm of our team in Singapore is stronger than ever, supported by the vigorous demand from our customers for sustainable and cutting-edge solutions.”

The project was first announced in 2017. Arkema’s facility will produce its Rilsan brand of polyamide 11 from castor oil. The product is used in 3D printing, consumer goods, electronics, sports and lifestyle products, and vehicles.

Arkema used the placement of a green bond in October 2020 to secure €300 million to fund the construction of the plant. Production at the Singapore site is slated to commence in the first half of 2022.

Mordor Intelligence forecasts that the global market for high-performance polyamides, which includes polyamide 11, will grow at a CAGR of about 6% between 2020 and 2026. The global market for polyamides used in 3D printing applications was estimated at $48.6 million in 2022, according to business insights firm Markets and Markets.