Materials firm Royal DSM NV has chosen Augusta, Ga., as the site of its new North American nylon resin plant.

DSM — based in Heerlen, the Netherlands — already makes nylon feedstock caprolactam and medium-viscuous grades of nylon 6 resin at a plant in Augusta. The new plant will be built next to the existing one and will make high-viscuous film grades of Akulon-brand nylon 6 resin for flexible food packaging and other segments.

The new plant “will leverage the scale of our existing polymer operations,” engineering plastics Americas President Richard Pieters said in an Oct. 29 news release. Augusta Economic Development Authority Chairman Henry Ingram added in the release that DSM “has been a major force in Augusta for many years, and today’s announcement reinforces their continued commitment to our community.”

Construction on the new plant is set to begin in the first quarter of 2015, with opening expected in mid-2016.

DSM first announced the decision to build the plant in July, but no location was disclosed at that time. The firm also compounds nylon and other engineering resins at a plant in Evansville, Ind.

DSM posted sales of $11.7 billion in 2013, up more than 5 percent vs. 2012.