Two of the world’s biggest fiber makers, Invista and Hyosung, continue to expand their reach globally and in new product markets.
Invista’s technology and licensing group, Invista Performance Technologies (IPT), and SASA Polyester Sanayi have reached an agreement for the license of IPT’s P8 process technology used to manufacture polyester for SASA’s PTA project in Adana, Turkey.
The preferred raw material for polyester production is Purified Terephthalic Acid or PTA. PTA is reacted with mono ethylene glycol (MEG) to produce a polyester polymer, poly ethylene terephthalate, or PET. That polymer manufactured using IPT technology can be used for any polyester application ranging from container resin applications to polyester staple fiber and filament yarn production.
With an annual PTA production capacity of 1.5 million tons, this would be the largest single-stream design capacity licensed by Invista. The variable cost, capital productivity and environmental performance of this PTA plant is expected to set new benchmarks within the industry.
“SASA will continue to invest in polyester to position itself as the leading polyester producer after China and India,” Ibrahim Erdemoğlu, SASA’s chairman, said. “This agreement will enable self-sufficiency in PTA, terminating all PTA imports into Turkey. This is also the first step of SASA’s investment in petrochemicals with more investment in polyester, PTA and MEG to follow in Adana’s Yumurtalik district.”
Mike Pickens, Invista IPT president, said SASA first licensed the IPT technology in 1974.
“The signing of this license agreement has great significance in terms of long-term collaboration between SASA and IPT,” Pickens said.
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In addition, IPT and Jiangsu Jiatong Energy Co., a subsidiary of Tongkun Group, have reached agreement to license Invista’s latest P8 PTA technology for two PTA lines.
These two lines will be installed in Nantong City, China. Both lines deploy Invista’s largest twin stream design utilizing P8++ PTA technology. Tongkun and INVISTA have been working together for 10 years in PTA.
“Our companies have a long history of PTA innovation, and we look forward to working together on this new chapter of technology and cooperation between the two parties,” Adam Sackett, IPT vice president of PTA, said.
The first line is expected to start up in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s Hyosung Corp. is accelerating its entry to the global eco-friendly fiber market by supplying an environmentally friendly material to outdoor backpack brand Osprey.
Mipan Regen Robic, developed by Hyosung, is created by recycling byproducts generated from the fiber production stage. Lightweight, with strong tearing strength and wear resistance, Mipan Regen is suitable for outdoor products, such as backpacks, work clothes and swimsuits.
In the first quarter of this year, Hyosung started supplying Mipan Regen to Osprey of the U.S. Osprey will release the Talon/Tempest Series, a flagship backpack line created with Mipan Regen for the Spring 2021 season.
Hyosung noted that the global eco-friendly fiber market is growing at an average of approximately 10 percent per year. The market scale is expected to reach around $70 billion by 2025.
In line with this trend, the annual sales of Hyosung’s eco-friendly yarn division have been more than doubling since 2017. Hyosung has established a policy to strengthen entry to the global market with its eco-friendly products, such as Mipan regen (nylon), Regen (polyester) and Creora Regen (spandex).
“Customers have started demanding businesses to have a high level of awareness of and responsibility for the environment,” said chairman Cho Hyun-joon of Hyosung Group. “Based on the Green Management Vision 2030, Hyosung will continue expanding products, materials and business models with which to realize the eco-friendly values.”
Osprey claims a 43 percent share in the global outdoor backpack market. Known for its lightweight and highly durable backpacks, this company has secured a top market share spot based on its product development, high-efficiency production and innovative, eco-friendly materials.