Performance Fibers Expands Tire Fabric Cord Capacity In Alabama

New Fabric Converting Capacity Targets Growing Tire Industry

Richmond, VA — Performance Fibers, a leading global industrial polyester supplier, has announced the expansion of its tire cord fabric plants in Winfield and Scottsboro, Ala. This expansion of the company's converting facilities will increase its capacity to produce a wide variety of tire cord fabrics by more than 40 percent and is expected to be operational in the third quarter of 2006.

"Expansion of our tire cord fabric capabilities is necessary to continue the excellent service to our customers and support our growth," said David Rouse, Global Marketing Director – Tire. "The expansion will allow us to supply additional volume and additional products, as well as any new products our customers require."

Tire cord fabric is one of the key products provided by the Alabama plants, which produce industrial polyester fabrics and fibers. According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association, tire sales in North America are projected to grow 1.2 percent this year, bolstered by both original equipment and replacement sales, making this an important market segment for Performance Fibers.

Performance Fibers, an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., purchased the Scottsboro and Winfield operations from Diolen in August, 2005. Since the purchase, Performance Fibers has continued to invest in the facilities to better serve its customers and position itself as one of the leading tire cord fabric suppliers in the Americas. These operations have now been fully integrated into the Performance Fibers system, seamlessly providing additional products and services to its customers.

In addition to the expansion in North America, the company is nearing completion of doubling its yarn and fabric capacity in Kaiping, China and recently announced the signing of a letter of intent to acquire INVISTA Resins & Fibers GmbH's German polyester yarn business.

SOURCE: Performance Fibers