Asahi Glass
(AGC) is to establish a plant at the Asahi Glass Fluoropolymers
site in Thornton-Cleveleys,
to manufacture the fluorinated resin ETFE.
Construction of the £15 million plant will begin in January 2006 and is scheduled for completion in January 2007. The project will increase Tokyo-based AGC's production capacity for ETFE by approximately 20%.
According to Asahi, worldwide demand from new customers for ETFE has increased sharply, particularly among manufacturers of construction materials and automobiles. Globally, demand for ETFE is predicted to grow 5% annually.
AGC is now seeking European Union and local approval for the construction and operation of the facility.
(a copolymer of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene) is an engineering resin used as: an insulation material for electrical wires used in automobiles, aircraft and robotics; a material for tubes used to transport specialised liquids; and as a film material used in greenhouse applications.
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