Teijin DuPont Films (Tokyo / Japan; www.teijindupontfilms.jp/english) has restarted its PET films plant in Ibaraki / Japan after production was suspended following the earthquake in northeast Japan on 11 March – see Plasteurope.com of 18.03.2011. The company, a joint venture between Teijin (Tokyo / Japan; www.teijin.co.jp/english) and DuPont (Wilmington, Delaware / USA; www.dupont.com), resumed operations at the Ibaraki site on 25 March, Teijin said in a statement.

Teijin DuPont Films’ operations in Utsunomiya / Japan remain suspended as a result of damage caused by the earthquake. “Operations are expected to resume in late April and then gradually return to full-scale production,” Teijin said. Separately, DuPont said its research and manufacturing facility at Utsunomiya, which produces performance polymers for the automotive and industrial markets, also incurred damage and is being affected by a periodic loss of electrical power. A DuPont spokesman said the facility is now fully staffed but production remains suspended. He was unable to comment on when production would resume, however, DuPont said all its remaining sites in Japan are operating.