A new DuPont fluoropolymer production plant has begun operations here. The plant, which produces polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fine-powder and dispersion for global customers, with focus on Asia Pacific, marks a significant milestone in the company’s strategic plan to establish a broader fluoroproducts manufacturing base in China.

“The opening of the Changshu plant supports our belief that it is a very good time to invest in PTFE production in China,” said Cynthia Green, vice president and general manager, DuPont Fluoroproducts. “DuPont’s advanced, high-quality PTFE products already have established a leading position in the market and are delivering benefits to our customers around the world.”

PTFE products are generally supplied to automobile, apparel, construction, aviation, chemical manufacturing, and consumer and industrial cookware industries.

The Changshu plant is the fourth DuPont facility that has installed commercial production units using DuPont™ Echelon™ technology which produces low-PFOA content aqueous fluoropolymer dispersions. Other DuPont facilities using the Echelon™ technology are located in Parkersburg, West Virginia; Dordrecht, The Netherlands, and; Shimizu, Japan. Through the use of Echelon™ technology, DuPont has qualified customers representing over 90 percent of its sales volume of aqueous fluoropolymer dispersions to use products that reduce PFOA content by at least 97 percent.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries and regions, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.