Invista planting deep roots in China

Chemical supplier Invista has broken ground on new hexamethylene diamine (HMD) and nylon 6,6 polymer plants in China.

These facilities are located at the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park in Shanghai.

The 215,000-ton HMD plant and the 150,000-ton polymer plant are expected to start up in 2015. Invista has already received several government permits, most recently, the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau granted Environmental Impact Assessment approval for the polymer facility.

In addition to the HMD and polymer plants, Invista has plans for a future, 300,000-ton adiponitrile (ADN) facility. The overall investment in these plants will exceed US$1 billion, which will be the largest capital investment undertaken by Invista to date.

“We believe that China is driving global nylon demand growth, and the use of nylon 6,6 intermediates and polymer in the region will be increasing,” Warren Primeaux, president of Invista Intermediates, said in a statement. “The new facilities will enable us to provide customers with better service, shorter lead time, and a local resource for production.”

HMD, AND, and nylon 6,6 polymer are materials used in the production of nylon 6,6 fibres and polymers that ultimately become part of air bags, automobile parts, carpet, workout apparel, outdoor equipment, and more.

Wichita, Kan.-based Invista operates in more than 20 countries and has about 10,000 employees.