DuPont News, September 20, 2007
$500 Million Expansion Planned for Kevlar®
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| Vests made with DuPont™ Kevlar® help protect law enforcement officers from risks they face on the job. |
DuPont plans to invest over USD 500 million in a multi-phase production expansion for its high-performance Kevlar® para-aramid brand fiber, starting with a Kevlar® polymer expansion in Richmond, Va., later this year. For DuPont, a world leader in para-aramid sales, this expansion would increase Kevlar® capacity by more than 25 percent when complete in 2010 and represents the largest Kevlar® expansion since the product was introduced in 1965. Details about additional expansion phases will be announced at a later date.
“Global demand for DuPont™ Kevlar® has soared with the growing need for safety and security worldwide,” said Tom Powell, vice president and general manager – DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems. “In addition, high energy prices have increased demand for the lightweight strength of Kevlar® in the aerospace, oil and gas, and automotive industries. Our capacity expansion plan is a critical step in growing the Kevlar® business, maintaining DuPont leadership in high performance fibers, and delivering the innovation customers expect from DuPont.”
“This is a significant investment for DuPont and underscores our commitment to sustainability and providing products that improve the safety and protection of people and critical processes around the world,” Mark Vergnano, group vice president - DuPont Safety & Protection, said. “We are focusing our investment on products like Kevlar® that meet the needs of these multi-billion-dollar growth industries for high-performance, innovative materials.”
DuPont is committed to investment in both Kevlar® and Nomex® brand aramid fibers, including several recent investments in both products. Between 2000 and 2006, DuPont successfully completed four Kevlar®
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Made from DuPont™ Kevlar®, temperature-resistant honeycomb structures, such as the one pictured here, are inherently strong, yet extremely light in weight. The honeycomb materials are generally utilized in aircraft and shipbuilding industries.
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fiber expansion projects at its Richmond, Va., and Maydown, Northern Ireland, facilities. The latest expansions incorporated a proprietary New Fiber Technology (NFT) developed and patented by DuPont. This new technology enables innovative fiber and production capabilities for DuPont and is essential to help meet future market needs. In August 2006, DuPont announced it expected to invest more than USD 100 million in a three-phase capacity expansion that would raise Nomex® fiber and paper capability by approximately 10 percent. The first phase of the Nomex® expansion is scheduled to go online later this year.
To view a high-speed video clip of a bullet hitting fabric made of DuPont™ Kevlar® fiber in high definition, click here.
