February 27, 2026 12:03
Portuguese specialty polyester producer Selenis (IMG Group) plans to double capacity at its Portalegre site – which also hosts the company’s headquarters – by the end of 2027, from the current 62,500 tonnes/year.
The expansion will increase output of bio-based polyesters and co-polyesters, as well as mechanically and chemically recycled grades, attributed via certified mass balance.
The investment is intended to meet rising demand in the food, healthcare and textile sectors, also in light of the full implementation of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Directive.
“This expansion is a bold step forward,” said Duarte Gil (pictured), CEO of Selenis. “We are doubling our capacity to meet accelerating demand while ensuring we remain fully aligned with the evolving European regulatory framework. Circularity is no longer just a concept; it is our industrial reality.”
At the core of the project is the introduction of a next-generation Continuous Polymerisation (CP) platform, which will complement the existing batch process. “By combining the two systems,” the company said, “we increase flexibility and enable a continuous, highly consistent production flow, significantly optimizing energy consumption per tonne of product.”
Integrated with advanced vacuum systems, the new CP unit is expected to reduce the site’s reliance on natural gas by enabling greater process electrification. A significant share of electricity demand will be covered by the photovoltaic park recently commissioned by Selenis in Portalegre, with the aim of ensuring that additional output is powered by renewable energy.
“The project is built on measurable environmental progress,” said Carlos Paiva, Chief Operating Officer of Selenis. “By adopting continuous polymerization, we are drastically reducing the energy intensity of every tonne we produce, while our shift towards electrification and reduced natural gas consumption fundamentally lowers our carbon footprint. Together with our on-site photovoltaic plant, we ensure that growth remains firmly aligned with long-term global decarbonization objectives.”
Selenis operates production sites in Portugal, Italy and the United States, equipped with batch and continuous solid-state polymerisation (SSP) units, enabling the manufacture of a broad range of amorphous and crystalline polyesters and co-polyesters. The company also supplies polyester resins containing up to 50% recycled material. Selenis and its affiliate Evertis, which specialises in PET extrusion, are part of Portugal-based IMG Group.
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