INVISTA Kicks off Expansion of Airbag Fiber Facility in Shanghai
Global fiber manufacturer grows to meet increasing demand in Asia automotive market
INVISTA, one of the world’s largest integrated fibers and polymers businesses, today kicked off the expansion of its airbag and industrial nylon manufacturing plant in the Qingpu district of Shanghai, China. The expansion is expected to approximately double the existing plant’s capacity by 2013 when construction is complete, making it the largest plant of its kind in Asia.
Speaking at a customer celebration event today, David Duncan, president, INVISTA Performance Surfaces & Materials, said, “We feel proud that we are able to quickly respond to market needs with an expansion of this plant only three years after initial start up. What is also important is that we will continue to develop new technology and innovate to meet our Asian customers’ needs for high tenacity fibers.”
According to IHS data, light vehicle production in Asia is expected to rise by around 26 percent over the next three years, and the number of airbags fitted in these vehicles is expected to increase. The additional fiber production equipment is planned to start in early 2013 to serve this growing need in China, Korea, Japan and other developing Asian markets.
INVISTA is the only international company that has wholly-owned airbag fiber capacity on three major continents, and uses a common spinning technology in all plants to maximize the potential for global supply. In addition, the company has begun permitting and engineering work for the first phase of its nylon 6,6 intermediates and polymer project in Shanghai, demonstrating its commitment to Asia and further strengthening its leadership position as a world leader in nylon intermediates and fibers.
The company opened its first high-tenacity nylon 6,6 fiber plant in China in late 2008. “Our existing facility in Qingpu deploys our latest technology, and we will continue to bring innovations to the expanded assets,” said Duncan, “We will also continue to pursue sustainable growth by minimizing waste and driving efficiency in the use of resources.”
As a demonstration of this commitment, INVISTA’s airbag fiber site in Qingpu has been recognized earlier this year by the local industrial zone administration as one of the QingPu Industrial Zone’s top performers in energy efficiency improvement. In 2010 the plant improved its energy efficiency by more than 30 percent compared to 2009.
Anita Cai
Communications and Public Affairs, China
Work 86.21.63876666-2132
Lianne Ng
Government and Public Affairs, Asia
Work 852.2734.1065
