WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) -- Chemical maker DuPont Co. said Monday that it has expanded its flame-resistant fiber capacity with the launch of a new Spanish production facility.
The plant makes Nomex, a flame-resistant, high-temperature fiber that will not melt, drip or support combustion in air. Firefighters, military personnel, industrial workers and auto racing drivers are some of those who use Nomex products.
The new facility, which is part of a more than $100 million investment, is the last component of a three-phase plan to boost Nomex's global reach. The company already has a Nomex plant in Richmond, Va., and a joint venture in Japan.
In December, DuPont said that it was cutting 2,500 jobs, and that it planned to release 4,000 contractors by the end of the year, with additional contractor reductions expected in 2009. The company also said it would implement work schedule reductions and redeploy more than 400 employees on projects to reduce working capital and operating costs.
Shares of DuPont added 26 cents to $19.75 in morning trading.
