DuPont™ Nomex® Expansion Plans - To Meet Growing Demand for the Use in Electrical Insulation
Dec 18, 2006
DuPont has announced expansion plans, worth more than $100 million, for DuPont™ Nomex® brand fibre that will deliver a step change increase in its worldwide capacity. The expansion is in response to demand from market segments including electrical applications, where flame-resistant, high-temperature Nomex® brand paper is used to provide high-performance electrical insulation for motors, transformers and generators. Benefits to be gained from its use in these applications can be an extended life of the electrical equipment, reduced premature failures and repairs and enhanced safety in unforeseen electrical stress situations.
The multi-faceted expansion is scheduled to begin rolling out in phases later this year and will comprise of three projects, including the doubling of Nomex® paper production capacity in Japan by DuPont Teijin Advanced Papers, a joint venture. "Nomex® has experienced significant growth over the past three years," said William J. Harvey, vice president and general manager - DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems. "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. This expansion program represents an important step in growing the Nomex® business and delivering the innovation and service that customers expect from DuPont."
Beyond its use in the electrical insulation of consumer appliances, industrial equipment and transportation equipment such as high-speed trains, Nomex® paper is used as a lightweight core structure throughout the body of many commercial aircraft. It is formed from Nomex®, an inherently flame-resistant, high-temperature fibre that will not melt, drip or support combustion in air. It provides excellent resistance to a broad range of chemicals, delivering protection against a variety of threats.
Nomex® is part of the DuPont Safety & Protection platform, which is focused on helping to create safer lives everywhere. Some of the platform's other offerings include DuPont™ Kevlar®, another important brand of high-performance fibre well known as a key component in ballistic vests, DuPont™ Tyvek® used in medical fabrics, protective apparel, and homewrap, as well as DuPont™ Corian® and Zodiaq® surfaces, and DuPont™ RelyOn™ disinfectant and antiseptic products.
DuPont is a science 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, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.
