INVISTA opens new airbag fiber plant in Shanghai

20 Nov '08

3 min read

Largest of its kind in China will bring 11,000 tons of fibers per year to meet growing demand in automotive safety airbags

INVISTA, one of the world's largest integrated fibers and polymers businesses, opened its new airbag fiber manufacturing plant in Qingpu District, Shanghai. The new facility, the largest of its kind in China, specializes in producing high-quality, high-tenacity nylon 6,6 fiber with major applications in safety airbags for the automotive industry.

With an investment of more than US$50 million, the new plant will be part of INVISTA's global manufacturing network that has been supplying airbag fiber material to the automotive industry since the 1980's.

”We see great potential in the airbags market in Asia,” said Dan Stone, president of Performance Surfaces & Materials at INVISTA. ”The establishment of the new airbag fiber manufacturing plant signifies our commitment to address the growing needs of airbags and other high-tenacity nylon fibers in the region.”

“We expected growth potential in automotive airbags in Asia beginning in 2008 when we reviewed our investment opportunities a few years ago, so it is great to see this plant starting up this year,” Stone added.

In addition to Stone and other executives from INVISTA, today's opening ceremony was attended by senior leaders of the Shanghai Qingpu District Government, Shanghai Qingpu Industrial Zone, and other government organizations, as well as some of the company's key customers.

The plant, situated in Shanghai, is close to major automotive supply chains. The new facility's location and capacity will allow INVISTA to respond swiftly and flexibly to local, regional and global customers' needs.

With the facility going into operation, INVISTA is now the only international company that has wholly-owned airbag fiber capacity on three major continents: Europe, North America and Asia. This presence gives INVISTA a unique ability to supply customers around the world with our high-quality products.

“At INVISTA, we strive to create real, sustainable long-term value for our customers and society,” said Stone. “We are deploying our state-of-the-art technology at the new plant and operating it at the highest levels of environmental, health and safety performance."

INVISTA's global presence, leadership and commitment in the nylon industry have taken it forward to become a world leader in premium fibers and materials for automotive, interior and industrial nylon applications.

In China, the company has wholly-owned or venture manufacturing sites in Foshan, Guangdong province, Qingpu, Shanghai and Lianyungang, Jiangsu province producing spandex and nylon fibers. INVISTA has also demonstrated a strong commitment to the China market with a new textile research center being constructed in Shanghai, an expansion of the spandex operations in Foshan, and plans for the establishment of a nylon 6,6 intermediates plant in Shanghai.

INVISTA

More INVISTA News... More Textiles News - China...