Owens Corning (OC, Toledo, Ohio / USA; www.owenscorning.com) has announced that it has set aside about USD 100m for phase one of the expansion of its glass fibre plant in Yuhang / China that was officially inaugurated by CEO Michael Thaman on 9 March this year. The plans apparently call for a three-phased approach at an overall investment cost of USD 253m.

The company said the new plant would “significantly raise” capacities in Asia, although in response to a query by Plasteurope.com, OC did not specify exact capacities. However, several Chinese media have cited Sang Kyoo Han, managing director of OC’s Asia-Pacific Composite Solutions business division, who spoke of a nameplate capacity of 80,000 t/y once all expansion phases have been completed. The nameplate capacity of OC's existing, smaller production unit in nearby Hangzhou also is unknown.

Altogether, some 280 workers will be producing “Advantex” type 30 direct rovings in Yuhang, output that is destined for the Asian market. So far, these grades – used predominantly in pultrusion and wire-wrap methods – are being imported from Europe and the Americas.

The Yuhang plant is OC’s eighth glass fibre facility in Asia. In China, the glass fibre manufacturer not only operates plants in Yuhang and Hangzhou, but also in Doudian (Beijing) and Changzhou. In India, OC runs plants in Taloja and Thimmapur, and the company also has facilities in Ibaraki / Japan and Kimchon / South Korea.

OC’s Composite business unit generated USD 2.9 bn in sales in 2010 – up 17% year-on-year. Almost 75% of this increase, Owens Corning says, is the result of increased demand.