— By Plasteurope.com staff — 

Fourteen years after the previous expansion, Eastman Chemical (Kingsport, Tennessee, USA; www.eastman.com) is once again expanding the extrusion of PVB films under the Saflex brand in Ghent, Belgium. The existing lines are also to be modernised simultaneously, with the project scheduled for completion in 2026. The company, however, did not disclose the level of investment or capacity details. 

Despite the current weakness in automotive manufacturing, the US group is counting on future growth plans in this area and in architectural glazing. “We see strong macroeconomic trends,” said Sabine Ketsman, head of film activities at Eastman, talking about the expected demand in electromobility. PVB films are used as an intermediate layer in glazing.