Lugoff, S.C.—DuPont Textiles & Interiors (DTI) has announced a major expansion at the company’s plant here to increase production capacity of nylon BCF in support of the flooring business. The expansion will increase the plant’s production by more than 10%, and is scheduled to be in operation by the third quarter of 2003. “The investment is part of an overall plan for increased global production capacity, through capital investments and Six Sigma productivity programs, in order to meet increased demand for DTI Flooring’s products,” said Alan Wolk, vice president and general manager for DTI Flooring. “This new BCF, being the most modern and flexible nylon BCF available in the world, will further improve our competitiveness. “We are going to put in a new line actually, what we call a new type 93,” he added. “It’s a new production line, a nylon spinning line that will make approximately 40 million pounds of BCF.”

Products manufactured at the Lugoff, S.C., plant include nylon BCF fiber for residential, commercial and automotive carpeting applications and nylon flake for engineering polymers and fiber applications. Wolk noted, the expansion means two things for DTI. “This is a clear statement, a clear indication that we are in the BCF business for the long haul, and that we are committed to growing with the industry. “We are going to maintain our leadership position,” he continued, “and we are going to strengthen our brands as we have been. And the DTI formation back in February was nothing other than an enabler for us to do just that, and keep us in this business long term. “Secondly,” he added, “we have the capability to have these incremental expansions that are going to enable us to grow in this industry. So, this is not a one-and-done kind of thing. As needed, we will continue to grow the business.”

Because the expansion is scheduled to be in operation in 2003, adding new personnel is something DTI may do in the future. “The line starts up, our prognostication is, somewhere around the beginning of October 2003,” Wolk said. “It’s going to take us about a year-and-a-quarter to build it. Over that period of time we’ll figure out our staffing plans.” While meeting the increased demand for DTI Flooring’s products, the expansion also “is a matter of DuPont Textile Interiors saying, ‘We are going to maintain our leadership position in this industry,’” concluded Wolk. “We have Antron and Stainmaster, the two best brands in the industry. We are the leader and we plan on remaining the leader.” A business unit of DuPont, headquartered in Wilmington, Del., DTI is comprised of two businesses—Textiles and Interiors, and Intermediates. Textiles and Interiors includes apparel, home, industrial and flooring while Intermediates includes nylon, Terathane and polyester intermediates, specialities and joint ventures. For more information on DTI and its products, call 302/992-2566. —Louis Iannaco