DuPont (Wilmington, Delaware / USA; www.dupont.com) is spending USD 175m on a new plant for its “Tedlar” film, used in backsheets for solar modules, at Circleville, Ohio / USA. The chemical giant said the investment is in addition to the USD 120m announced for the expansion upstream, which will see capacity for vinyl fluoride monomer and polyvinyl fluoride monomer (PVF) feedstocks increased by 50% – see Plasteurope.com of 27.08.2009.

The feedstock expansion at Louisville, Kentucky, and Fayetteville, North Carolina, both in the US, is due to be completed this year, with film output commencing at Circleville in 2011. The upstream facilities are receiving tax incentives from local authorities and a small grant for high-tech products. Citing increased demand, DuPont is doubling its overall capacity for photovoltaic films, produced at six US locations, against the 2008 level – see Plasteurope.com of 15.09.2008. The group expects its overall sales to the photovoltaics industry to top USD 1 bn by 2012.