Wichita, Kan.-based Invista’s Performance Surfaces & Materials business, which supplies bulked
continuous filament (BCF) nylon 6,6 to the carpet industry, is investing $20 million to optimize
production capacity across its North American manufacturing facilities.
Most of the investment will go toward increasing production at the company’s Camden, S.C.,
facility, and adding 50 jobs at that plant to support the expansion. Invista will add new equipment
and reconfigure existing equipment at the plant; will double production capacity of Antron® Lumena™
solution-dyed nylon with TruBlend™ fiber technology and produce a new line of 895-denier Antron
Lumena solution-dyed products for the commercial carpet industry; and will increase color
capabilities for those products.
The Camden facility’s proximity to Invista’s carpet mill customers in the Southeastern
United States played a role in the company’s decision to expand that location. The expansion is
expected to result in reduced lead times and shipping times for orders as well as increased order
flexibility.
The investment follows Invista’s announcement last year that it would expand nylon yarn
spinning capacity at its Kingston, Canada, manufacturing plant, to meet continued demand spurred by
growth of the airbag market. The Kingston plant also supplies BCF nylon 6,6 to the carpet industry;
however, Invista notes it most likely will cut back on Kingston’s carpet fiber production in
upcoming years, considering its focus on industrial yarn development at that plant and increased
carpet fiber production capabilities at the Camden plant.
October 23, 2012
