Stronger capabilities to boost DuPont’s growth in Asia Pacific

DuPont new initiatives to support its customers in Asia Pacific has led to formation of a business unit that combines the product portfolio of Engineering Polymers and Elastomers, DuPont Performance Polymers offers a broader range of polymer solutions to target market segments such as automotive. “Growing markets in Asia Pacific, and in particular in emerging markets like China, offer tremendous opportunities for DuPont to provide innovative solutions to regional needs.” said James Hay, Regional Director for Asia Pacific, DuPont Performance Polymers. “We are pleased to introduce our latest - materials innovations, and update our customers about our investment initiatives such as new facilities at the DuPont China R&D Center and additional production capacity.” DuPont is launching Zytel® PLUS, a new family of nylon products. Zytel® PLUS is the result of several technology breakthroughs by DuPont researchers, aimed at cost-effectively delivering excellent properties and, most importantly, maintaining its performance much longer than traditional nylons when exposed to hot oil, hot air, calcium chloride and other aggressive automotive chemicals. In order to meet customer demand for environmentally sustainable solutions, DuPont Performance Polymers also offer the broadest range of renewably sourced engineering resins such as DuPont™ Hytrel® RS thermoplastic elastomers, DuPont™ Sorona® EP thermoplastic resins and DuPont™ Zytel® RS long chain nylons. These products can help reduce dependence on petroleum and, in many instances, reduce the net production of greenhouse gases and energy consumption in the manufacturing process when compared to incumbent petroleum based products. Applications for renewably sourced products cross numerous industries and markets. The business will also announce the start up of new production lines for its range of DuPont™ Zytel® nylon 6 and 66 resins, and DuPont™ Zytel® HTN™ PPA high performance polyamide resins, at its manufacturing site in Shenzhen. Upon start up in the second half of this year, these lines will double the overall compounding capacities of DuPont in China, underscoring the business commitment to the Greater China market. “China is a major growth engine for all our product families. We are accelerating our investment in technical and R&D facilities, and most importantly, in the people that support innovation with our customers.” Philippe Hanck, Sales & Marketing Director for Emerging Economies, Asia Pacific, DuPont Performance Polymers adds, “We believe that the capabilities at our R&D Center in Shanghai are already the most advanced in the industry, and we are leveraging them to establish strong partnerships with major Chinese companies who are leaders in their industry.” New facilities at the Shanghai R&D Center will enhance its material property and part testing capability for automotive applications, including fatigue property, NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) and impact simulation testing under different environments. The center already provides customers with a one-stop service on new material development and selection, part design, prototyping and part evaluation. This year, the centre will also strengthen its capability to support application development programs in the rapidly growing automotive market in China for safety, comfort and fuel efficiency.