Royal DSM, a global science-based company
active in health, nutrition, materials, recently announced to increase its production capacity for Dyneema, one
of the world’s strongest fiber. The global production
capacity of Dyneema UD will be increased by more than 20%.
Strong demand for both Dyneema UD (Uni-Directional
laminate) and Dyneema fiber is prompting this increase. This capacity increase
will further strengthen DSM’s product leadership under the Dyneema brand. As introduced, the
additional Dyneema UD and Dyneema fiber capacity will become available in the
course of 2018 and is due be fully on stream by Q1 2019.
The company is investing to install
additional new UD technology at its plant in Heerlen, the Netherlands, and its
plant in Greenville, NC, U.S. and will also make improvements to existing production
lines to expand Dyneema UD and Dyneema fiber capacity,
incorporating the latest technologies.
The capacity expansion will enable DSM to
serve the growing global customer demand. The growing domestic U.S. market will
be served better from DSM’s Greenville, N.C. facility.
Globally-recognized law enforcement
organizations such as: the New York Police Department (NYPD), U.S. Department
of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Los Angeles
Police Department, and many others are protected daily by Dyneema technology.
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% 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 high quality protective
ballistic vests, inserts and helmets,” noted DSM Dyneema President Wilfrid Gambade.
“The investment will enable us to better
accommodate growing customer demand and needs while further extending our
global leadership position,” he continued.