Specialty materials firm Eastman Chemical Company announced the startup of a new dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) unit at its site in Nanjing, China on Wednesday. The company said the new asset increases its capacity for the product, bolsters its foothold in the global alkyl alkanolamines market and will lead to increased sales in Asia.

“Even with a global pandemic, the construction had a perfect safety record,” Sabine Ketsman, vice president and general manager of care chemicals and animal nutrition for Eastman, said in a release. “I’m very proud of our entire team.”

Eastman is the world’s largest manufacturer of DMAE, which is used in water treatment and other applications, and also operates production units in the US and Belgium. The Nanjing facility manufactures methylamines and dimethylacetamide, and also contains an existing alkanolamines unit for DMAE, MDEA, MMEA, and MDIPA.

“Asia is a very important growth region,” said Ketsman. “Nanjing will be a critical hub for us to meet the future needs of our customers in China and the entire region.”

Eastman recently revealed plans to invest $250 million to open a new plastic-to-plastic recycling facility at its existing location in Kingsport, TN. Slated to reach mechanical completion in 2022, Eastman said the new plastic recycling plant will aid it in meeting its sustainability commitments on addressing the plastic waste crisis.