DSM to build fifth Dyneema yarn production line

21-Nov-2001

DSM High Performance Fibers, the producer of Dyneema superstrong polyethylene fibre, is going to expand its production capacity once again. At the existing Heerlen (Netherlands) production site, a fifth production line with a capacity of 600 tpa will be built. The project involves an investment of around EUR 30 million and comes on top of a number of other expansions carried out this year to meet the fast growing market demand. The fifth Dyneema yarn production line will come on stream in the last quarter of 2002, bringing total capacity at Heerlen to 3,200 tpa. In 2002 the company's workforce will grow by approximately 30.

Keep up with market demand

The market for Dyneema is growing strongly. The combination of high strength and low weight is the reason that Dyneema is increasingly used in high-performance protective products such as lightweight bullet-resistant vests and helmets, vehicle armouring, safety gloves and protective clothing, as well as in sails and other sport articles, nautical ropes and cables, fishing lines and fishing nets.

Over the last few years demand in protective applications has grown very fast. On top of that, Dyneema's successful track record in rope and twine applications has accelerated the replacement of steel and polyester in these applications.

"We have changed our organization to keep up with market demand, which is increasing very fast," says Pieter Greidanus, director of DSM High Performance Fibers. "The most recent capacity expansion scheme for Dyneema yarns confirms this: by the end of 2002 total production capacity will be 3,200 tpa, more than double the 2000 figure."

Vision 2005: Focus and Value

"The market for Dyneema is growing even faster than we expected," comments Peter Elverding, chairman of the DSM Managing Board. "These investments will enable the Dyneema business to implement its growth strategy at an accelerated pace. The investments in these high performance products are fully in line with our Vision 2005: Focus & Value strategy."

Dyneema

Dyneema is a superstrong polyethylene fibre developed by DSM. It is manufactured by a gel spinning process, a DSM invention. This technology, which has been patented worldwide, yields the world's strongest fibre: up to fifteen times stronger than steel and forty percent stronger than aramid fibres on a weight-for-weight basis. Dyneema also has a low density (it floats on water) and high resistance to abrasion, moisture, UV rays and chemicals. Its high energy absorption makes it bullet-resistant.

Superstrong Dyneema is used in high-performance protection items (lightweight bullet-resistant vests and helmets), vehicle armouring, sails, nautical ropes, fishing lines, fishing nets, cables, protective gloves and other protective clothing.

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