In a move aimed at meeting rising global demand for composites, Hanwha Azdel (Forest, Virginia / USA; www.azdel.com) – part of South Korea’s Hanwha L&C (Seoul; www.hlcc.co.kr) – in mid-June 2012 announced a USD 20m investment to build a new plant manufacturing its “SuperLite” lightweight reinforced thermoplastic (LWRT) composites. Nameplate capacity of the facility, which will be located at the company’s existing hub in Bugang / South Korea and is scheduled to come on stream in 2014, was not disclosed. The group already operates a glass-mat thermoplastic (GMT) composite line at the site.

Once operational, output of the new plant will go towards meeting the needs of Asian automotive and industrial production lines. LWRT composites have a lower density and a higher fibre-volume fraction than GMT composites. By reducing component weight, they also reduce costs and are often used to improve acoustical damping, Hanwha Azdel says.