Polyamide High Performance Inc. (PHPI), Scottsboro, Ala. — the North American business unit of
high-tenacity polyamide and polyester yarns and polymers manufacturer PHP, Germany — has partnered
with Toyobo Co. Ltd., Japan — a manufacturer of fibers, fabrics, films, resins and other products —
to establish an airbag fabric weaving and finishing business in Scottsboro that will operate under
the name SafeTweave Inc.
Toyobo will provide the technology and equipment for SafeTweave’s plant, which will be
located adjacent to PHPI’s nylon spinning plant. PHPI’s plant will supply nylon 6,6 to SafeTweave,
which will sell its airbag fabrics to Toyobo Industrial Materials America Inc. for use in U.S.-made
Japanese cars. SafeTweave is expected to begin production in December 2012 and create 25 jobs.
PHPI Sales Director Manuel Guerra noted the endeavor is part of the company’s effort to bring
insourcing and manufacturing back to the United States. “We have had issues over the last few years
due to earthquakes, the tsunami in Japan and flooding in Thailand,” he said. “There’s a big push
from Japanese original equipment manufacturers to make sure they have localized supply.”
May/June 2012
