DuPont/Invista

INVISTA plans to take lead in China spandex production

INVISTA Board approved a new Spandex production facility in China

INVISTA JV to Expand Spandex Production in Foshan

インビスタ、丸紅と高機能素材の世界発信で合意

INVISTA to build state-of-the-art nylon 6,6 yarns plant in Shanghai

インビスタ、ハネウェルから上海工場などアジア太平洋地域のナイロン６事業を取得

Invisata files lawsuit seeking damages in excess of $800 million from DuPont

INVISTA sues RHODIA and DUPONT for conspiracy, theft of trade secrets

Invista agreed with agencies to resolve noncompliance dating back to DuPont ownership of Invista sites

INVISTA and LanzaTech Sign Joint Development Agreement for Bio-Based Butadiene

September 22, 2004 INVISTA 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　letter of intent

INVISTA Expansion -- First Under New Ownership -- Further Strengthens Company's Position as World's Leading Spandex Producer
http://www.invista.com/news/2004/pr_040910_guangdong.shtml

First Capital Project under New Ownership Doubles Capacity to Meet Growing Local Needs

Today, INVISTA announced that its Board of Directors has approved a new production facility in Foshan, Guangdong, Province of China. This expansion will continue to position the company as the world's largest producer of branded and generic spandex in the world.

The planned expansion, using state of the art technology, will increase spandex capacity initially by 12 kilotons with potential for doubling to a 24 kiloton expansion in the next year. The US $100 million dollar plus project is expected to be complete in mid-2006. Construction will begin this fall as soon as all commercial agreements with local entities are in place.

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CCR 2007/11/19

INVISTA JV to Expand Spandex Production in Foshan

On November 14th, INVISTA announced that its INVISTA Fibers (Foshan) Co. Ltd. joint venture (JV) plans to make an additional total investment of US$99.6 million in connection with a planned new production plant at its Foshan site, Guangdong province.
The joint venture spandex production plant, at Xinan Foshan Plastics Group Industrial Park in Sanshui District of Foshan, opened in November 2006, plans to use its additional investment to build a new 12.5 kilotons per year spandex facility next to the existing joint venture site in Foshan.

2005/08/25　丸紅/インビスタ

インビスタ、丸紅と高機能素材の世界発信で合意
http://release.nikkei.co.jp/detail.cfm?relID=108716&lindID=2

丸紅株式会社・インビスタ　ジャパン株式会社　共同展示会 「COOL ASIA（クール　アジア）」
Functional material from Asian Factories in Tokyo
丸紅のネットワークを通じて、インビスタの高機能素材をアジアから世界にダイナミックに発信

　高機能素材を海外で安心して調達したいというニーズに応えるため、アジアを注視するインビスタ社は、繊維とファブリックを衣料に結びつけるダイナミックな活動を展開する丸紅株式会社と、「丸紅の海外ネットワークを通じて、インビスタの高機能素材をアジアから世界にダイナミックに発信する」ことで合意しました。

2006/6/28 INVISTA

INVISTA to build state-of-the-art nylon 6,6 yarns plant in Shanghai
Leading integrated fibers and polymers company will become the only supplier with automotive airbag fibers production in three major continents

INVISTA, the world's leading integrated fibers and polymers producer, will build a major manufacturing facility to produce nylon 6,6 yarns in the Shanghai area of the People's Republic of China. The new plant, with annual capacity of 11 kilotons, is expected to commence construction later this year.

2006/10/30 インビスタ

インビスタ、ハネウェルから上海工場などアジア太平洋地域のナイロン６事業を取得
インビスタ、アジア太平洋地域におけるナイロン６事業を取得

　インビスタは本日、ハネウェルとの間に、アジア太平洋地域における同社のナイロン６ＢＣＦ（かさ高長繊維）事業の資産を取得する旨の最終的な合意に達したと発表しました。この資産にはハネウェルの上海工場が含まれており、取得は中国国内の完全な外国資本の企業を通じて行われます。この契約に係る取引の完了は、当局の許可と通常の取引においても含まれている一般的な条件が満足されることを条件として、２００７年初頭を予定しています。

　取得対象に含まれる中国上海工場では白色可染糸や原着のナイロン６ＢＣＦの製造設備以外に、エアー混合糸、撚糸、ヒートセット糸を製造する加工設備も含んでいます。

INVISTA to build state-of-the-art nylon 6,6 yarns plant in Shanghai

March 26, 2008 Invista

Invisata files lawsuit seeking damages in excess of $800 million from DuPont

INVISTA filed a lawsuit in federal court here today seeking damages and a court order requiring DuPont to fulfill its contractual obligations arising from safety and environmental noncompliance while DuPont owned certain INVISTA sites.

The lawsuit describes widespread and substantial noncompliance that occurred at the manufacturing facilities during DuPont's ownership and seeks compensatory damages in excess of $800 million, plus punitive damages.

2008/8/18 Invista

INVISTA sues RHODIA and DUPONT for conspiracy, theft of trade secrets
Suit addresses misappropriation of INVISTA trade secrets, unlawful competition in nylon chemicals market

In federal court here Friday, INVISTA sued Rhodia and DuPont alleging they are teaming up to misappropriate INVISTA’s world-leading adiponitrile (ADN) technology and are unlawfully using INVISTA’s trade secrets to expand in the nylon chemicals business.



The INVISTA trade secrets at issue relate to its proprietary process for producing adiponitrile, a critical intermediate chemical used in the manufacture of nylon 6,6. INVISTA bought the original technology several years ago from DuPont as part of a $4.2 billion transaction and has built upon that technology to earn a world-leading position in the manufacture of ADN, Jarvis said.

When it sold the technology to INVISTA, DuPont signed an agreement prohibiting it from competing against INVISTA or making investments in competitors for an agreed-upon period, which has yet to expire. As explained in the lawsuit, Rhodia obtained unlawful access to the trade secrets through a France-based joint venture between affiliates of INVISTA and Rhodia.

Public statements by Rhodia and DuPont indicate that Rhodia is using INVISTA’s trade secrets to develop and operate an adiponitrile (ADN) manufacturing facility in Asia. DuPont recently disclosed that it is an investor in Rhodia’s ADN expansion plans.

　　参考　2008/4/2　Invista、DuPontに8億ドル以上の損害賠償請求

　

Global Players

• Asahi Kasei Corporation (Japan)
• BASF Aktiengesellschaft (Germany)
• BASF Corp (USA)
• Invista (USA)
• Lanxess AG (Germany)
• Liaoyang Petrochemical (China)
• Radici Partecipazioni SpA (Italy)
• Rhodia SA (France)
• Solutia Inc. (USA)

2008/8/18 Dow Jones

DuPont: 'No Factual Basis' For Invista Trade-Secrets Lawsuit

E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. said Monday there's " no factual basis" for a trade secrets lawsuit filed by Koch Industries Inc.'s Invista unit against DuPont and France's Rhodia SA last week.

In a statement, the Wilmington, Del., chemicals giant said it will "vigorously defend" itself against the action, which claims DuPont and Rhodia have teamed up to steal Invista's proprietary technology for the production of a chemical used in the manufacture of nylon.

"As a science company, DuPont takes great care to protect its intellectual property, and to respect the intellectual property rights of others," the company said.

　

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September 25, 2006 Rhodia

RHODIA continues its development in Asia with the construction of a new polyamide intermediates unit

Rhodia has announced the construction of Hexamethylene Diamine (HMDA) unit in China, as part of its upstream integration in the polyamide chain. With an annual capacity of 60 kt/p.a, the new unit, to serve the fast growing HMDA merchant market in Asia, will be operational in early 2009.
“This decision is fully in line with the strategy of Rhodia Polyamide to focus on our intermediates and engineering plastics businesses in which we hold leadership positions. Our investment will allow Rhodia Polyamide to provide a better service to its customers in Asia and seize new development opportunities in a market enjoying strong growth,” explained Laurent Schmitt, President of Rhodia Polyamide. "As part of the same industrial logic”, he added, “Rhodia is studying the feasibility of building an adiponitrile (ADN) plant in Asia."
This new unit will strengthen Rhodia Polyamide’s already well-established industrial base, developed over the last 15 years in Asia. This base, comprising an adipic acid plant, two engineering plastics compounding plants and a polymerization facility under construction, is situated in China and South Korea.

　

April 13, 2009 Invista

Invista, agencies file agreement
Resolves Noncompliance Dating Back to DuPont ownership of INVISTA sites

An agreement lodged in federal court here today between INVISTA S.à r.l., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Justice and other regulatory authorities resolves violations of environmental requirements dating back to when DuPont owned and operated certain facilities now operated by INVISTA.

INVISTA identified and disclosed more than 680 violations at 12 former DuPont sites in seven states shortly after taking ownership and in the following months as it performed comprehensive environmental audits under the U.S. EPA’s audit policy.

INVISTA already has corrected the vast majority of the audit findings settled by the agreement. For approximately 50 remaining findings, the agreement outlines required actions, including installing additional environmental controls at plants in Chattanooga, Tenn.; Seaford, Del.; Camden, S.C.; and Orange and Victoria, Texas.

INVISTA’s investment in these corrective actions is estimated to total up to $500 million and result in emissions reductions of nearly 10,000 tons per year.

In March 2008, INVISTA filed a lawsuit in federal court in New York seeking damages and a court order requiring DuPont to fulfill its contractual obligations. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages in excess of $800 million, plus punitive damages because DuPont knew of several safety and environmental violations that placed its employees and the public at risk, but took no action to rectify them or disclose them to INVISTA. On March 30, 2009, the court denied DuPont’s motion to dismiss this lawsuit, allowing all elements of the case to continue, including INVISTA’s pursuit of punitive damages.

2008/4/2　Invista、DuPontに8億ドル以上の損害賠償請求

Jun 30, 2012 Reuters

DuPont, Koch's Invista settle environmental case

* Invista claimed misled on safety of plants
* DuPont claimed Invista violated contract's terms
* Invista, Justice Department entered large 2009 settlement

DuPont Co has settled a $745 million lawsuit brought by Koch Industries Inc's Invista unit over safety and environmental problems at plants once owned by the large chemical company.

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed in a joint statement from the companies on Friday.

Invista is a large fiber and polymer producer that once comprised DuPont's textiles and interiors business, and which Koch purchased from DuPont for about $4.4 billion in 2004.

Four years later, Invista sued to recover cleanup costs at facilities transferred in that sale, accusing DuPont of misleading it about health and safety conditions there.

2008/4/2　Invista、DuPontに8億ドル以上の損害賠償請求

DuPont had countered that it was not responsible to cover cleanup costs because Invista had violated contractual terms relating to environmental indemnification.

A non-jury trial expected to run eight weeks began on June 4 before U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein in Manhattan, but was put on hold this week as the settlement was being worked out.

In April 2009, the U.S. Department of Justice said Invista agreed to pay a $1.7 million civil fine and spend up to $500 million to correct environmental problems at plants in seven U.S. states.

Invista had earlier disclosed more than 680 regulatory violations to the Environmental Protection Agency after auditing 12 facilities it had bought from DuPont. The Justice Department had called the accord the largest under the EPA's audit policy.

Privately held Koch Industries is based in Wichita, Kansas, and controlled by the billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch.

Invista is also based in Wichita. It has several well-known brands including Lycra fiber and Stainmaster carpet, and also makes nylon, which DuPont had invented in the 1930s.

DuPont is based in Wilmington, Delaware.

The case is Invista BV et al v. EI DuPont de Nemours and Co, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 08-03063.

 Aug. 13, 2012 Invista

INVISTA and LanzaTech Sign Joint Development Agreement for Bio-Based Butadiene

World-leading nylon producer INVISTA and biotechnology firm LanzaTech signed a joint development agreement focused on bio-based butadiene. According to the agreement, INVISTA and LanzaTech will collaborate on projects to develop one-step and two-step technologies to convert industrial waste gas carbon monoxide into butadiene. Initial commercialization is expected in 2016.

The collaboration will initially focus on the production of butadiene in a 2-step process from LanzaTech CO-derived 2,3-butanediol (2,3 BDO). A direct single step process will also be developed to produce butadiene directly through a process of gas fermentation.

INVISTA and LanzaTech will also collaborate on the joint development of tools that will allow the extension of this technology—once developed—for the direct production of other industrial chemicals, including nylon intermediates, from carbon monoxide containing waste gases, utilizing LanzaTech’s gas fermentation technology and proprietary biochemical platform. INVISTA is building internal biotechnical capability to develop biological routes to its products and feedstocks.

Butadiene is an important intermediate chemical used in the production of synthetic rubber and various plastics. It is also a key intermediate chemical used by INVISTA in its proprietary, butadiene-based adiponitrile (ADN) production technologies. ADN is a critical intermediate chemical used in the manufacture of nylon 6,6.

“As we seek innovative solutions to increase the global supply of butadiene, we believe developing a cost competitive biological route to butadiene will help assure ample supply and reduce price volatility,” said Bill Greenfield, executive vice president of INVISTA’s nylon intermediates business. “We believe this collaboration effort is a great opportunity to leverage our own internal biotechnical research with the unique and impressive capabilities that LanzaTech has developed.”

According to Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech, “This collaboration is an important next step toward our vision of a diversified fuels and chemical portfolio. Joining forces with INVISTA’s world-class research team will enable us to accelerate the commercialization of a biological route to butadiene, further demonstrating that gas fermentation is an important route for the production of both fuels and chemicals.”

LanzaTech’s 15,000 gal/year pilot facility at a steel mill in New Zealand produces ethanol and 2,3 BDO from waste carbon monoxide gas. In Shanghai, China, LanzaTech’s 100,000-gallon-per-year demonstration uses waste gases from a Baosteel steel mill to produce ethanol.
　

About LanzaTech
Founded in 2005 in New Zealand and headquartered in Roselle, Illinois, LanzaTech has developed a novel gas-liquid fermentation process that produces low carbon fuels and chemicals from waste gas resources. Backed by global investment, LanzaTech has offices in the U.S., China and New Zealand and has a rapidly growing patent portfolio. With agreements now in place across a variety of sectors internationally, including steel, coal, refining and chemicals, LanzaTech’s technology is being scaled to commercial production. More information is available at www.lanzatech.com.

The LanzaTech Process
The LanzaTech Process can convert carbon monoxide containing gases produced by industries such as steel manufacturing, oil refining and chemical production, as well as gases generated by gasification of forestry and agricultural residues,  municipal waste, and coal into valuable fuel and chemical products. The robust process is flexible to the hydrogen content in the input gas and tolerant of typical gas contaminants. 
The carbon monoxide containing gas enters the process at the bottom of the bioreactor, and is dispersed into the liquid medium where it is consumed by LanzaTech's proprietary microbes as the reactor contents move upward in the reactor vessel.
The net product is withdrawn and sent to the product recovery section.
The product recovery section makes use of an advanced hybrid separation system to recover the valuable products and co-products from the fermentation broth.The water is recovered and returned to the reactor system, minimizing water discharge from the process. The products and co-products are collected for downstream use.  
In some cases, these products can be used directly as fuel or chemical products.  In many cases it is also possible to convert products from the LanzaTech process in to common chemicals or ‘drop in’ fuels that are normally derived from petroleum. 
The LanzaTech process provides a route from waste gases and solids to valuable fuel and chemical products, reusing carbon along the way to minimize environmental impact. 

The key to LanzaTech’s proprietary technology is a microbial catalyst that can convert carbon monoxide to ethanol.
Gas-to-fuel conversion with microbes has been under development for the last two decades. The commercialization barrier for these other processes has been the requirement for high amounts of hydrogen in the input gas stream. Elevated levels of hydrogen are not a feature of steel mill waste gases.
LanzaTech therefore appears to have a window of opportunity not captured by competitors.

　

Jan. 5, 2013 - INVISTA

INVISTA gains EIA approval for HMD plant in Shanghai

INVISTA, a world leader in nylon intermediates and fibers, has received Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval from the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau for a 215,000-ton per year hexamethylene diamine (HMD) plant at the Shanghai Chemical Industrial Park.

ナイロン6,6は、アジピン酸とヘキサメチレンジアミンを重合して作られる。

INVISTA has fully authorized construction of the plant and expects to commence production in 2015. This marks a significant milestone for INVISTA’s planned investments to create an integrated nylon 6,6 intermediates and polymer asset in the region.

When production comes on line, INVISTA’s global HMD enterprise will be well-positioned to serve the rapidly growing Asia Pacific markets for a variety of nylon 6,6 applications, as well as high performance polyurethanes.

“This new plant will give INVISTA and its customers a significant competitive advantage,” said Steve Kromer, INVISTA senior vice president, responsible for implementation of INVISTA’s integrated nylon 6,6 intermediates investment strategy in Asia. “With new local production, the plant will facilitate the growing needs of our Asia businesses and strengthen our position in the region as supplier of choice.”

The new plant will be the most energy efficient HMD facility in the world, according to Mr. Kromer. It underscores INVISTA’s continuing focus on improving energy efficiency, minimizing environmental impact and developing innovative technologies.

INVISTA is also working on the next phases of its China investments in nylon 6,6, including facilities to produce ADN using its proprietary technology, nylon 6,6 polymer, and engineering polymer compounds.

Given INVISTA’s strong commitment to the Asia market, the company has invested more than $100 million in various projects in the region in the past 12 months, including a new Easy Set LYCRA® fiber production line in Tuas, Singapore, the expansion of its nylon 6,6 airbag fiber facility and opening of its China Textile Research Center in the Qingpu District of Shanghai. INVISTA has also helped start up some of the largest polyester and spandex intermediates plants in the world, with clients in China utilizing proprietary, INVISTA-licensed technologies.

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April 19 , 2010 INVISTA

INVISTA Launches Engineering Polymers Business in China
    Global producer poised to meet booming demand for high-quality nylon 6,6

INVISTA, a leading global manufacturer of chemical intermediates, polymers and fibers, has announced its launch of an engineering polymers business in China to meet growing industrial demand for nylon 6,6 across a range of applications.

The launch of the new business, which makes its debut at this week’s ChinaPlas 2010 in Shanghai, reflects INVISTA’s commitment to the Chinese market while supporting its objective of becoming a worldwide leader in the market development and production of nylon 6,6 for engineering polymers.

“Our customers in China will benefit from INVISTA’s global reach and responsiveness,” said Kurt Burmeister, executive vice president of INVISTA Engineering Polymers. “Whether our quality nylon product is for automotive, electrical, consumer electronics or sporting goods applications, our customers will realize value through our simplified product portfolio, economies of scale, supply integration, outstanding sourcing models and innovative supply chain logistics.”

INVISTA recently expanded its commercial and technical capabilities in the region to support its customers in China. Initially launched in North America last summer, INVISTA Engineering Polymers has introduced a unique approach of commissioning a network of reliable – and now well-established – independent compounders. INVISTA is now extending this model to China.

Through the Engineering Polymers business, INVISTA is also bringing its world-class expertise and leading technologies to respond to China’s growing demand for recycled materials. As a global leader in post-industrial recycling, INVISTA is extending its capabilities into other recycling arenas, such as post-consumer recycling. The proposed introduction of these processes aligns with Chinese policies and goals of balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship.

The Asia-Pacific region represents the largest and fastest growing market for nylon, according to market analysts. This growth is attributed in part to the region’s increasing consumption of nylon in automotive applications, which is a primary focus of INVISTA’s new product offering.

“Our vision is to develop a fully integrated engineering polymers business in China,” said Burmeister. “We’ve started from the ground up, which has given us a unique opportunity to structure our business to meet, and perhaps even anticipate, the requirements of the Chinese marketplace.”

May 15, 2013 - INVISTA

INVISTA signs Land Reservation Agreement for nylon 6,6 polymer site at Shanghai Chemical Industry Park
Next step for INVISTA’s integrated nylon 6,6 asset in China

INVISTA, a world leader in nylon intermediates, polymers and fibers, has signed a Land Reservation Agreement with the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park Development Company for a nylon 6,6 polymer site at the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP).

The agreement is for additional land adjacent to INVISTA’s planned hexamethylene diamine (HMD) and adiponitrile (ADN) plants and marks INVISTA’s next step as it continues to make progress on plans for an integrated nylon 6,6 polymer facility in China.

“It is our intent to build a world-scale polymer facility in a timeframe that would align with our HMD project,” said Warren Primeaux, president of INVISTA Intermediates. "We believe China's continued strong GDP growth will drive increasing demand for durable goods—products that can be enhanced by the use of nylon 6,6."

INVISTA's nylon 6,6 products are used in fiber applications such as apparel and industrial textiles, as well as in engineering polymer applications in automotive electrical, industrial and consumer markets. Known for its strength at high temperature as well as impact, chemical and abrasion resistance, nylon 6,6 offers significant advantages in many applications over other materials that have been traditionally used in China.

INVISTA has taken a keen focus on China as one of the most important places for growing its proprietary nylon technology. The company's plan for an integrated asset exceeds USD $1 billion, the largest capital investment undertaken by INVISTA to date.

Earlier this year, INVISTA announced it had received Environmental Impact Assessment approval from the Shanghai Protection Bureau for a 215,000-ton per year HMD plant at SCIP. INVISTA’s Project Approval Request and Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise status from the Chinese authorities were also recently approved for the project. These three items are significant milestones toward having the HMD plant operational by mid-2015.

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INVISTA broke ground today on new hexamethylene diamine (HMD) and nylon 6,6 polymer plants at the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP) in China. These facilities mark a key milestone in INVISTA’s plans for integrated nylon 6,6 facilities in the China market and underscore the company’s commitment to the region.

ナイロン66 = ヘキサメチレンジアミン（炭素数6）+ アジピン酸（炭素数6）
アジポニトリルの加水分解により、アジピン酸が得られる。

More than 300 people attended the ceremony, including senior government officials from SCIP, the Jinshan government and related authorities, local customers, INVISTA leadership and employees.

“China is one of the most important regions for our growth strategy,” said Jeff Gentry, INVISTA’s chairman and chief executive officer. “We have seen significant growth in the region in recent years, and we plan to continue to bring our latest innovative technologies here. The theme of our groundbreaking event—Growing Together: a New Era of Nylon 6,6—reflects the fact that we are working closely with our customers to build the local nylon and polyurethane markets.”

The 215,000-ton HMD plant and the 150,000-ton polymer plant are expected to start up in 2015. INVISTA has already received several government permits; most recently, the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau granted Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval for the polymer facility.

In addition to the HMD and polymer plants, INVISTA has plans for a future, 300,000-ton adiponitrile (ADN) facility. Once completed, INVISTA’s new facilities will be among the most energy-efficient nylon intermediates sites in the world and will employ INVISTA’s most advanced technologies for ADN, HMD and polymer production. The overall investment in these plants will exceed US$1 billion, which will be the largest capital investment undertaken by INVISTA to date.