| May 14, 2003 |
Toray To Increase 3GT Fiber Production |
| Toray Industries, Inc. has decided to build a new production
facility at its Mishima Plant, which will manufacture 1,000 tons per year of
3GT fiber (polytrimethylene terephtalate) with excellent soft feel and stretch
properties to meet the growing demand for clothing. The new production facility
is scheduled to come on stream in spring 2004. Together with existing production
facilities, the plant's yearly production capacity will be 1,500 tons. With regard to the upcoming production schedules targeting both apparel and industrial applications, the company had originally planned an increase of 2,000 tons/year in 2005 but is now aiming at levels of 2,000 tons/year by the end of 2004 and 3,000 tons/year by 2005. In May 2001, Toray concluded an agreement with Du Pont of the U.S. for the licensing of 3GT fiber. The company has been going ahead with full-scale production of 3GT bicomponent fiber at its Mishima Plant since October 2002 after introducing a production facility to manufacture 500 tons of bicomponent fibers per year. Toray has been aggressively marketing 3GT textiles under the brand name of "Fitty," while 3GT bicomponent fiber has been sold under the brand name "T-400" by Du Pont-Toray Co., Ltd. The decision on the new production facility was the consequence of growing demand for "Fitty"as 'Prime stretch' material to be used for woman's clothing, sports wear and linings. The world's production scale of 3GT fiber in 2002 is presumed approximately 2,000 tons of bicomponent fiber, about 2,000 tons of homofiber, and from a few thousand tons up to 10,000 tons of BCF (Bulked Continuous Filament). Owing to its stretch property, bicomponent fiber will partially replace the existing spandex elastic fiber market. In addition, the company expects further growth in demand for bicomponent fiber thanks to its soft feel and a wide range of downstream applications. Toray intends to expand its marketing of "Fitty"by increasing bicomponent fiber production and strengthening its integrated textile production developments from yarn through downstream. Du Pont of the U.S. plans to replace petrochemical-based raw material (1.3 Propandiol) of 3GT fiber to corn-based raw material by using biotechnology. Toray is concurrently positioning 3GT fiber as an environment-friendly product and plans to strengthen its 3GT fiber business in the future. |
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