DuPont Engineering Polymers to expand compounding capacity in China

DuPont Engineering Polymers announced an expansion of compounding capacity for its range of DuPont™ Zytel® nylon 6 and 66 resins and DuPont™ Zytel® HTN PPA high performance polyamide resins at the manufacturing site of DuPont in Shenzhen, China. The expansion will add 30,000 metric tons new capacity per year for Zytel® GRZ nylon resins and 10,000 metric tons for Zytel® HTN PPA high performance polyamide resins. Start up of the production is planned for 2nd quarter, 2009.

“DuPont Engineering Polymers continues to invest in the regions with the highest market growth,” said Dr. Richard Mayo, global business director for Zytel® nylon resins and Crastin® PBT resins, DuPont Engineering Polymers. “China is a cornerstone of our growth strategy. Our continued investment in the Shenzhen site demonstrates our commitment to reinforce our position as the leading supplier of PA66 engineering plastics globally and in Asia. We expect that the market in China will continue to grow at high rates and this investment will allow us to continue to supply our global and domestic customers locally.”

“We are seeing continued rapid growth of demand for Zytel® HTN PPA. This is in response to market trends in the automotive and electronic & electrical industries which are driving increasing needs for materials with higher temperature performance and chemical resistance. By adding Zytel® HTN PPA compounding capacity in China will further increase our capability to better support the business growth of our global and Asia Pacific customers,” said Jane Austin, global business director for high performance resins, DuPont Engineering Polymers.

Zytel® GRZ nylon resins provide high strength, stiffness and high temperature resistance. They are used in many applications in the electronics & electrical equipment and automotive parts like air intake manifolds, cylinder head covers etc. Zytel® HTN PPA high performance polyamide resins offer a balance of chemical, moisture and temperature resistance, with an excellent surface and easy processing. They meet demanding needs in automotive under-the-hood applications as well as electronic & electrical components.

“One of our corporate strategies is going where the growth is. The investment in Shenzhen site is part of our overall business strategy for long term growth in the engineering polymers market. The expansion in Shenzhen together with the investment in the compounding capacity of Zytel® resins in Ulsan, South Korea we announced earlier will result in additional 65,000 metric tons of capacity of high performance materials to our facilities. We are pleased to put these investments in place to accelerate growth,” added Philippe Hanck, sales director, Asia Pacific, DuPont Engineering Polymers.

In addition to manufacturing capability, DuPont Engineering Polymers also made investment in providing innovative technical solutions to customers. DuPont R&D Center in Shanghai is equipped with the full spectrum of CAD (Computer Aided Design) and CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) capabilities. The enhanced molding and testing capabilities at the center will support customers on development work within a shorter time period. The mission of DuPont Automotive Center in Nagoya is to collaborate with customers to provide new solutions for auto system and applications.

The DuPont Engineering Polymers business manufactures and sells Crastin® PBT and Rynite® PET thermoplastic polyester resins, Delrin® acetal resins, Hytrel® thermoplastic polyester elastomers, DuPont™ ETPV engineering thermoplastic vulcanizates, Minlon® mineral-reinforced nylon resins, Thermx® PCT polycyclohexylene dimethylterephthalates, Tynex® nylon filaments, Vespel® parts and shapes, Zenite® liquid crystal polymers and Zytel® nylon resins and Zytel® HTN high-performance polyamides. These products serve global markets in the aerospace, appliance, automotive, consumer, electrical, electronic, healthcare, industrial, sporting goods and many other diversified industries.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.