DuPont is shifting production of Kevlar from a new half a billion dollar plant.
Spokesman Dan Turner stated that “DuPont is transferring Kevlar manufacturing at the Cooper River site in South Carolina to our Spruance site in Virginia, where the majority of our Kevlar manufacturing is located.”
The Cooper River site is based near Charleston and Spruance is located near Richmond.
“This change will make it possible to invest in the future growth and innovation of the Kevlar business. Kevlar employees at Cooper River will be eligible for positions at other DuPont facilities, including our site in Richmond, VA, and the company will work with them to secure roles both inside and outside of DuPont,” Turner stated in an Email message.
Richmond BizSense reported that 113 jobs are affected by the decision to move production from the site that opened with much fanfare in 2011. The plant was touted as a way to meet growing demand for the light, durable material.
Production equipment will be moved to the Richmond area.
According to Turner DuPont will maintain its presence on the Cooper River Site with the Hytrel manufacturing unit. Hytel is a flexible material that is used in automotive and other markets.
Kevlar, a key DuPont discovery that came out of the Wilmington Experimental Station in the 1960s, is best known for its use in bulletproof vests. However, its uses include have been expanded to aircraft, tires and automotive markets.
Under new CEO Edward Breen, DuPont has been looking for ways to reduce overhead throughout its operations. In Delaware, the company cut 1,700 jobs.
