Product category:
Materials and components
News Release from: Sabic Innovative Plastics
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 01 February 2005
Second Lexan plant opens in Spain
General Electric has officially dedicated its new Lexan resin plant in Cartagena, Murcia, at an event hosted by Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt.
General Electric has officially dedicated its new Lexan resin plant in Cartagena, Murcia, at an event hosted by Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt This is the third phase of the GE Advanced Materials, Plastics complex and represents an investment of Eur 600 million
The planned construction of a fourth phase, GE's Ultem resins plant, was also announced during the inaugural event.
The inauguration of GE's second Cartagena Lexan resin plant brings its total investment in the Cartagena complex to Eur 1700 million.
This represents one of the largest private investments in Spain in the last 20 years and confirms that GE is one of the biggest private investors in the Spanish economy.
The new GE plant is expected to employ more than 250 people, increasing the total number of employees in the Cartagena complex to over 600, all of whom have been trained in quality, safety, information technology, and other technical disciplines.
Employees of GE's new plant will focus on the production of Lexan resin.
They will also continuously collaborate with scientists at GE's Global Research Centres to help define the future technical materials needs of the GE's customers.
The new GE plant has the capacity of producing approximately 130kt of Lexan resin per year.
Based on current global demand for GE's Lexan resin, much of the plant's output is currently expected to be absorbed by the market.
The plant was designed using six sigma rigour, GE's quality standard, and was based on its twin facility with which it has production synergies.
GE expects that over 90% of the plant's production will be exported from Murcia to customers around the world.
In 2003 alone, exports of thermoplastics from Cartagena were valued at Eur 300 million - more than 8% of Murcia´s total exports.
The total investment in the region for the 1993-2002 period is over Eur 2.85 billion.
"Lexan polycarbonate is known around the world for its benefits to industry and the consumer", said John Krenicki, President and CEO of GE Advanced Materials.
"Lexan is tough, clear and virtually unbreakable".
"GE is proud to make even more Lexan products in Cartagena to serve customers and consumers around the world".
GE's Cartagena site is an example of innovation and efficiency in safety management.
In the last two years of the plant's construction, with more than 3000 contractors, there were no accidents.
In November 2004, the complex surpassed the million working hours milestone without any lost-time accidents.
The Cartagena complex is committed to environmental leadership, as is reflected in its policies of waste management, emissions control and ISO14001 quality standards.
Between 1993 and 2003, GE invested Eur 40 million for environment protection on the plant's site.
Additionally, through its volunteer programme, GE Elfun Volunteers, GE has dedicated over 300 volunteers and more than 3000 volunteer hours to programs in nearby communities.
GE plans to continue its investment in Murcia with the construction of a new plant that will manufacture high performance polymers under the Ultem resin brand.
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