DuPont to build $80 million plant in China

ZHANGJIAGANG, China—DuPont Transportation & Advanced Polymers is investing more than $80 million to build a new manufacturing facility in Zhangjiagang that will produce "compounded high-end engineering plastics and adhesives."

The site is expected to become operational in 2020 with expansion through 2023.

The products, DuPont said in a Nov. 8 statement, will serve customers in transportation, electronics, industrial and consumer products markets.

Production at the facility primarily will focus on Zytel nylon engineering plastics, Delrin acetal resins, Hytrel thermoplastic polyesters, Multibase thermoplastic elastomers, and specialty silicone materials.

LV battery housing made with DuPont's Zytel

DuPont is planning to include new production lines for automotive adhesives and manufacture additional specialty products at the site in the future. This, the company said, would make the site the first "multi-business manufacturing facility in China" for the new DuPont.

"This investment reinforces our commitment to China and the Asian market where we see strong growth potential across our businesses," said Randy Stone, president of DuPont Transportation & Advanced Polymers.

The company anticipates growth in the automotive sector due to strong customer demand from end users such as electric and hybrid vehicle manufacturers.