Performance Fibers to Build Second Plant in China

Performance Fibers will build a second polyester fibre and fabric plant in Kaiping, China, to meet demand from the country’s growing automotive market. The new plant will double the company’s dimensionally stable polyester capacity in China, where it is the industry leader. This is the company’s second expansion at the Kaiping facility in two years, having doubled capacity of the original plant with the addition of new production lines in early 2005.

”Construction is expected to be complete by the first quarter of 2006. Additional expansions are planned which will again double our DSP(R) fibre and fabric capacity in China by 2008,” said Greg Rogowski, president and CEO of Performance Fibers.

”This second expansion in two years demonstrates our commitment to supply dimensionally stable polyester to our customers worldwide,” Mr Rogowski said. “Our global footprint, combined with our leading technology and cutting-edge products, has positioned us to meet the needs of our customers and their markets wherever they are located around the world.”

The new plant, which will be located on the same site of the existing plant in Kaiping (Guandong Province), will produce and convert dimensionally stable polyester fibres for tyre reinforcement, automotive, and other industrial and consumer uses. The company markets these fibres under the trade name DSP(R) fibres.