Invista Investment Opens New Opportunities in UK

Newcastle, UK, Mar. 24--Invista, formerly known as DuPont Textiles and Interiors, recently opened its new North Area Control Centre at Wilton. Situated at Tees Valley's chemical complex, Wilton Inter-national, the project's completion marked a further investment of 4 million pounds sterling in the plant. According to the Journal - Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the new control center contains cutting edge technology to control the operation of the nitric acid plant, which provides feedstock for the manufacture of nylon polymer and nylon intermediates. Nylon polymer is used in carpets, rugs, clothes and tyre reinforcements. The control centre will also assume control of the operations on the ketone-alcohol (KA) section of the Wilton Intermediates complex. The investment has helped safeguard the future of the facility, which employs 350 people. It also takes total investment at the site to 290 million pounds sterling since it was taken over in 1993. Local MPs visited the site to mark the official opening of the centre. Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar and Redcar MP Vera Baird gave their backing to the project. Dr Kumar said: "A state-of-the art control centre could act as a catalyst for more investment in INVISTA's Teesside operations." Ms. Baird added: "This exciting new development is yet another illustration of the dedication and capability of the workforce here at the Wilton site and that shows business can really rely on Teesside workers to deliver. "INVISTA know that their investment will be rewarded. I hope that other firms are taking note" INVISTA has nylon intermediate plants in the USA, Europe and the Far East, and expertise in a range of nylon intermediates technologies. Drawing on these global resources, Invista was able to design a technology upgrade for the Wilton KA plant, which will create one of the most competitive sites in the world while at the same time adopting a technology with the lowest environmental impact of any commercial KA process. INVISTA is the world's largest producer of adipic acid and ketone- alcohol. Its licensing business is offering a variety of technologies, including the replacement of boric acid technology and an alternative caustic based technology. John Anderson, managing director of INVISTA (UK) and site manager at Wilton said: "Completion of the North Area Control Centre reinforces our ability to build a sustainable operation in the Tees Valley. "Following the recent exciting news about the purchase of INVISTA by Koch Industries, Inc, we are committed to the future development of the company and we bring more than 70 years of DuPont innovation and market strength with us. "This will allow INVISTA to successfully compete in the global market place." INVISTA is currently being purchased by Koch Industries, Inc, in a pounds 2.6bn deal, with closing of the deal expected to be completed in the first half of 2004. Koch Industries, Inc, is a privately owned company with headquarters in Wichita, Kansas.

Print the Article