specialty chemicals and materials company based in West Paterson, N.J., has selected a site
adjacent to its existing carbon fiber plant in Greenville to build a new facility that is expected
to double the company’s carbon fiber manufacturing capacity and enhance its capability to provide
next-generation fibers. Cytec plans to invest some $150 million in the project, which is now in the
assessment and engineering definition phase, with construction expected to begin in 2008 and
start-up expected in early 2010.
Once the new facility is fully online, it is expected to provide approximately 225 skilled
and professional jobs, and will produce Thornel® T300, T650 and T40/800 carbon fibers, used in
commercial aerospace and military applications, in addition to new fibers being developed.
“The proposed facility … will leverage the surrounding developed land, rail access and some
of the current infrastructure,” said Steve Speak, president, Cytec Engineered Materials, the Cytec
business unit that manufactures carbon fibers and other high-tech materials used in extreme-demand
applications including aerospace, high-performance automotive, launch and others. “And when you
factor in the pool of highly skilled talent already available and the in-depth training that the
South Carolina Technical College System can provide, South Carolina’s value proposition is clear
and compelling.”
Cytec Engineered Materials will use approximately two-thirds of the carbon fiber it
manufactures in its own advanced composites production. Third-party materials manufacturers
specializing in aerospace products will use the remaining one-third.
March/April 2007
