DSM: Expansion of polyethylene fibre
DSM is to expand its production capacity for Dyneema super strong polyethylene fibre, by at least 40 per cent by building two new production lines in the USA. They will have a combined capacity of 1,300/1,600 tons per year, depending on grade, and will start up in two stages in 2004.
It is also to build two new production lines for Dyneema UD ballistic sheet material, one next to the existing UD line in Greenville (operational since 2001) and one in Heerlen, the Netherlands, next to the existing five Dyneema yarn production lines and the existing UD production line. The four new lines will cost around Eur 100 million.
The new lines will raise DSM’s total capacity for Dyneema fibres to at least 4,500 tonnes and that for Dyneema UD to 2,000 tonnes.