The investment will amount to several tens of millions of dollars and will bring the total number of fibre lines for the company to ten. The expansion is a response to the continued strong demand for the fibre in all its application areas. The new unit is expected to come on stream early 2008 and construction is planned to start by the end of this year.

Dyneema is a superstrong polyethylene fibre that offers maximum strength combined with minimum weight. It is up to 15 times stronger than quality steel and up to 40% stronger than aramid fibres, both on weight for weight basis. The fibre floats on water and is resistant to moisture, UV light and chemicals. It can be used for ropes, cables and nets, safety gloves and in fine yarns for applications in sporting goods and the medical sector. It is also used in bullet resistant armour and clothing for police and military personnel.

The company is also constructing two new manufacturing facilities at its Chemelot site in Geleen, the Netherlands for increased production of Stanyl polyamide 46 and Stamylan UH ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. The new facilities, which will each double existing production capacity, are scheduled to come on line in 2008. The total investment will be around €100 million.

Stamylan UH is used as a high strength, wear-resistant engineering plastic in industrial, sports and other applications and in Dyneema.