Dupont $500M Kevlar Production Expansion

by Sail-world.com & Powerboat-world.com on 26 Sep 2007 DuPont is to invest over $500 million in a multi-phase production expansion of its Kevlar para-aramid brand fibre. The expansion will boost capacity by over 25% when complete in 2010.

The company said that growing global demand for product innovations was the key driver for an investment that represents the largest Kevlar expansion since the product was introduced in 1965. The multi-phase program will start with a Kevlar polymer production expansion in Richmond, Va. USA, later this year.

(While marine industry has expanded its use of kevlar over the last decade, products like bullet proof vests that are driving overal demand.

'Global demand for DuPont Kevlar has soared with the growing need for safety and security worldwide,' Thomas G. Powell , vice president and general manager – DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems, said. '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 fibres, and delivering the innovation customers expect from DuPont.'

Mark P. 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.'

Between 2000 and 2006, DuPont successfully completed four Kevlar fibre expansion projects at its Richmond, Va., and Maydown, Northern Ireland, facilities.