INVISTA, formerly DuPont Textiles & Interiors, today announced nylon 6,6 fiber production capacity increases totaling 7.5 kilotons (kt.) at two facilities; one in Qing Dao, China, and the second in Gloucester, UK. This additional output is being added to support growth for industrial nylon 6,6 fiber used in automotive airbags and other inflatable restraint devices. Start-up for the first of the three-phase project is scheduled for December 2003 in Gloucester. The second and third phases are scheduled for start-up in 2004; with Qing Dao, China, in mid-2004, and the final phase in Gloucester by year-end 2004.
“This addition of high-quality industrial nylon 6,6 capacity is a demonstration of INVISTA’s commitment to grow with the automotive airbag market,” said Dan Stone, global airbag business director, INVISTA. “Asia Pacific is projected to grow in this market and we are excited to have the first nylon 6,6 airbag-capable manufacturing facility in China as an important initial step,” he said. The additional capacity will also enable INVISTA to meet growing customer needs for anticipated global growth of side protection automotive safety devices. Market projections indicate a potential for airbag modules to triple in demand over the next five to eight years.
INVISTA is the world’s largest global supplier of a wide range of high-tenacity industrial nylon 6,6 fiber used in the airbags. Currently, INVISTA operates nylon 6,6 airbag fiber manufacturing facilities in Kingston, Canada, and Gloucester, UK. The new capacity in Qing Dao, China, places INVISTA as the first company to produce and supply high-tenacity nylon 6,6 airbag fiber to the local market in China.
INVISTA, a wholly owned subsidiary of DuPont, is the largest integrated fiber and intermediates business in the world, with 2002 revenues of $6.3 billion, operating in 86 countries. Headquartered in Wilmington, Del., it is comprised of three businesses: Apparel; Interiors and Industrial; and Intermediates. INVISTA is committed to its customers’ growth through market insights and technology innovations combined with a powerful portfolio of the best-known global brands and trademarks in the industry including: LYCRA®, STAINMASTER®, ANTRON®, COOLMAX®, THERMOLITE®, CORDURA®, SUPPLEX®, TACTEL®, DuPontTM Teflon® and in the specialty chemicals business: CORFREE®, DYTEK®, ADI-Pure®, and TERATHANE®. For an extensive listing of INVISTA consumer and product brands and offerings, please visit our website at www.invista.com.
DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by solving problems and creating solutions that make people’s lives better, safer and easier. Operating in more than 70 countries, the company offers a wide range of products and services to markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation, and apparel.
