DuPont plans €78 m expansion of Nomex fibre production

Wilmington, Delaware - DuPont will invest more than $100 million (€78 million) in a three-part expansion plan for its Nomex high performance fibre brand.

The expansion plan, expected to begin later this year, will involve the construction of a new isophthaloyl chloride (ICL) plant in Asturias, Spain, as well as the addition of new equipment that is expected to boost Nomex production capacity at the Spanish facility by 30 percent.

DuPont said the new ICL plant would free up capacity for the production of ingredients for its Kevlar high performance fibre.

Under the plan, DuPont's Japanese joint venture, DuPont Teijin Advanced Papers, would also double production of Nomex paper, which is used in electrical insulation and as a lightweight structural support in commercial aircraft.

According to DuPont, Nomex is a flame-resistant, high-temperature fibre that does not melt, drip or combust.

"Spurred by demand from market segments that include protective apparel, high-performance materials and electrical insulation, DuPont Nomex has experienced significant growth over the past three years," vice president and general manager of DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems William Harvey said.

"Strong customer value for the Nomex brand and the quality it represents, in addition to trends toward increasing worker safety and smaller, more energy-efficient electronics, are driving market needs for Nomex across a wide range of applications.''