Wichita, Kan.-based Invista, a global integrated fibers and polymers manufacturer, has signed an
agreement to license its 1,4 butanediol (BDO) and polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG)
technologies to China-based Chongqing Jian-Feng Industrial Group Co. Ltd. Jian-Feng is investing 2
billion renminbi (approximately US$300 million) to build a manufacturing complex that will produce
BDO and PTMEG at Chongqing Chemical Industry Park in the Fuling district of the Chongqing
Municipality.
“We are proud to support Chongqing’s continuing technological and industrial development
through our licensing of BDO and PTMEG technologies,” said Jeff Gentry, CEO and chairman of the
Board of Directors, Invista. “Our technology licensing organization, Invista Performance
Technologies, has over 40 years of technology transfer experience and has participated in over 40
projects in China. We are pleased to provide Jian-Feng with the design and know-how for its
manufacturing operation in Chongqing.”
The agreement includes the manufacturing processes, required technologies, product
formulations and the expert engineering services for the complex’s two plants, which are expected
to produce 60,000 tons of BDO and 46,000 tons of PTMEG annually. BDO is used to make polyester
resins and polyurethanes. PTMEG is a polyether glycol used as a building block in high-performance
polyurethanes, polyesters, copolymers and other polymers, with end-uses including spandex fibers,
thermal plastic elastomers and cast elastomers for apparel, automotive and industrial
applications.
In other company news, Invista’s Performance Surfaces and Materials division has announced it
will enlarge its investment in Ashburn Hill Corp., a Greenville-based manufacturer of
fire-retardant (FR) apparel for industrial and firefighting applications. Invista announced last
year that it would collaborate with Ashburn Hill to create a new generation of industrial FR
apparel
(See ”
Invista
Partners With Ashburn Hill To Expand Product Offerings,” Dec. 2, 2008).
“Invista is delighted to be able to invest additional funds in order to support Ashburn Hill
in realizing its potential,” said Jeff Brown, vice president, Invista Performance Materials. “We
anticipate that the revolutionary protective apparel developed with Ashburn Hill Corp.’s Tecgen®
fiber will offer significant improvements in comfort and protection to workers requiring protection
to NFPA 2112 and 70E standards.”
September 8, 2009
