DSM’s Dyneema fiber global production capacity to be increased by over 20%
issue date:21/06/2018
Source: CTA Editorial Team
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 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.

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.