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Royal DSM expanding production capacity for Dyneema

18 May '18

2 min read

Courtesy: DSM

Royal DSM, a global science-based company active in health, nutrition, materials, is expanding its production capacity for Dyneema, the world’s strongest fibre. Strong demand for both Dyneema UD (Uni-Directional laminate) and Dyneema fibre is prompting this increase. The global production capacity of Dyneema UD will be increased by more than 20 per cent.

The company is investing to install additional new UD technology at its plant in Heerlen, the Netherlands, and its plant in Greenville, NC, US and will also make improvements to existing production lines to expand Dyneema UD and Dyneema fibre capacity, incorporating the latest technologies. The increased production capacity will further strengthen DSM’s product leadership under the Dyneema brand.

The capacity expansion will enable DSM to serve the growing global customer demand. The growing domestic US market will be served better from DSM’s Greenville facility. Globally-recognised law enforcement organisations such as the New York Police Department (NYPD), US Department of Homeland Security, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Los Angeles Police Department are protected daily by Dyneema technology. The additional Dyneema UD and Dyneema fibre capacity will become available in the course of 2018 and is likely to be fully on stream by first quarter of 2019.

In addition to expanding capacity, DSM Dyneema will also further improve its carbon footprint, delivering on its brand promise Dyneema, the Greenest Strength. Applications made with Dyneema already deliver the lowest carbon footprint for the performance specified from cradle-to-grave compared to other materials and DSM is committed to further improve this. As an example, DSM’s plant in Greenville, North Carolina, already uses 100 per cent renewable electricity.

Dyneema UD is a composite unidirectional laminate that offers excellent energy absorption and enhanced protection. It is available as a hard and soft ballistic material. Ongoing innovation by DSM will continue to newer, lighter, better performing materials to the market in the years ahead.

“Dyneema products are finding use in a broad and ever-increasing range of markets and applications in which lightweight strength is of the essence, for instance best-in-class protective ballistic vests, inserts and helmets,” notes DSM Dyneema president Wilfrid Gambade. “DSM Dyneema is the world’s largest UHMwPE fibre and UD manufacturer with a backward integration into UHMwPE polymer production. These investments will enable us to better accommodate growing customer demand and needs while further extending our global leadership position.” (SV)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India