Teijin Aramid

Teijin Aramid BV
Industrial fiber producer
Industry Chemicals - Fibers
Founded 1983 by Akzo Nobel
Headquarters The Netherlands, Arnhem
Key people
 E. Alberda van Ekenstein - CEO
Products Technora, TeijinConex, Twaron & Sulfron
Revenue Increase$?? Billion USD (????)
Profit Increase$?? Billion USD (????)
Number of employees
 1,300 (2006)
Parent Teijin Ltd
Website www.teijinaramid.com

Teijin Aramid, formerly known as Teijin Twaron, is a company in The Netherlands that produces various high-strength fibers for industrial purposes, most notably their Kevlar-like para-aramid, Twaron. Twaron finds applications in numerous markets, such as automotive (tires, hoses, belts), aerospace, civil engineering, construction, leisure goods (e.g. boats), protective clothing (bullet-, fire- and cut-resistant clothing), optical fiber cables, friction and sealing materials and more. The company has been part of the Japanese Teijin Group since 2000, prior to this they were a division of Akzo Nobel, division Industrial Fibers. Next to Twaron, the company markets Technora, Sulfron and TeijinConex as well.

History

Twaron is a heat-resistant and strong synthetic fiber, developed in early 1970s by the Dutch company AKZO, division Enka, later Akzo Nobel Industrial Fibers. The research name of the aramid was originally Fiber X, but soon called Arenka.

In 1973 Akzo decided to use sulphuric acid (H2SO4) as a solvent for spinning.

In 1976 a pilot plant was built.

In 1982 the name Twaron was introduced.

In 1985 commercial production was started on 3 locations and 9 plants.

In 1989 the aramid business of AKZO became an independent Business Unit called Twaron BV.

In 1995 the capacity was 11.000 tons/yr

Since 2000 Twaron BV is owned by the Teijin Group and now called Teijin Twaron BV. Teijin Twaron is based in Arnhem, The Netherlands and main production facilities for Twaron are in Emmen and Delfzijl.

In 2003 a major capacity increase to 18.500 tons/yr was completed.

In 2006 additional process improvements gave 24.000 tons/yr capacity.

In 2007 the name of Teijin Twaron BV was changed to Teijin Aramid BV.

Teijin projects an 8- to 10-percent increase in the worldwide aramid fibers market in future years, and is adding another 5- to 10-percent increase in capacity in 2007.

See also

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