The manufacturer is investing to install additional new UD technology at its plant in Heerlen, the Netherlands, and its plant in Greenville, NC, US, and will also make improvements to existing production lines to expand Dyneema UD and Dyneema fibre capacity. The global production capacity of Dyneema UD will be increased by more than 20%, which will further strengthen DSM’s product leadership under the Dyneema brand.

Serving growing demand

The capacity expansion will enable DSM to serve the growing global customer demand. The growing domestic US market will be served better from DSM’s Greenville, NC, facility. Globally-recognised law enforcement organisations, such as the New York Police Department (NYPD), US Department of Homeland Security, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Los Angeles Police Department, and many others, use Dyneema technology. The additional Dyneema UD and Dyneema fibre capacity will become available in the course of 2018 and is due be fully on stream by the first quarter of 2019.

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 says it is committed to further improve this. As an example, DSM’s plant in Greenville, NC, already uses 100% renewable electricity.

Dyneema products

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 best-in-class protective ballistic vests, inserts and helmets,” said DSM Dyneema President Wilfrid Gambade.

“DSM Dyneema is the world’s largest UHMwPE fibre and UD manufacturer with a backward integration into UHMwPE polymer production. These investments will enable us to better accommodate growing customer demand and needs while further extending our global leadership position.”

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