Fact Sheet

Information contained in this document is effective as of March 10, 2008.

Performance Fibers is a leading global supplier of high-tenacity polyester fibers, industrial Nylon-6, engineered fabrics, sewing thread fibers and other advanced materials. Its products are used in a wide range of segments including energy, environment, architectural design, transportation, lifestyles and leisure, safety and security, and specialty. 

The business is a multi-national manufacturing company with production sites on three continents. It has sales, marketing, technical and applications support, as well as manufacturing, in North America, Europe and Asia. 

Performance Fibers’ experienced leadership, exceptional technical support and industry-leading sales and marketing all contribute to its long-standing, distinguished customer relationships with market-leading manufacturers around the world. Performance Fibers is dedicated to enabling the success of each and every customer through its global presence, technological strength, deep experience in the fibers business and commitment to growth. 

Product Portfolio

Overview: Performance Fibers’ products are used in a wide variety of applications ranging from sewing thread, tires, seat belts, webbings and broadwoven fabrics to sailcloth and ropes for offshore mooring. Segment categories, products and applications include: 

Automotive Safety: Securus^® Fiber

For years, Performance Fibers has been at the forefront of advances in automotive safety as a major developer and supplier of polyester fibers for seatbelts, air bags and inflatable curtains that make up some of today's safest occupant restraint and safety systems. 

Coated Fibers & Fabrics: DSP^® fiber, Substraight^® fiber, PenTec^® fiber and WickGard^®

The company’s fiber and finish technologies are designed to meet a wide range of broad and narrow woven, cordage and coated fiber and fabric performance requirements. Broadwoven applications include marine fabrics, back-lit signs, roofing reinforcements, awnings, canopies, cut-resistant upholstery, casual furniture, tents, tarps, sleeving and high-strength geosynthetic reinforcements. Narrow fabric applications include cargo tie-downs, slings, tow straps and high strength tape. 

Engineered Reinforcements: DSP^® polyester fiber, PenTec^® fiber

Performance Fibers is a value-added global supplier of high-quality yarns with outstanding reinforcement qualities for a wide range of end uses, including industrial, automotive and consumer hoses; power transmission and timing belts; V-belts; and conveyer and other flat belts and chafer fabrics. 

Geotextile and Geogrid Fibers:

 Performance Fibers’ high-tenacity polyester fibers and yarns for geotextiles and geogrids are high-strength, high-modulus and low creep, making them ideal for use in road construction, retaining walls, shoreline protection, landfill, water and sludge containment, drainage and erosion control and walls, slopes and landscaping. 

Narrow Fabrics Fibers:

 Narrow fabrics are created for a variety of uses, ranging from cargo tie-downs and slings to tow-straps and high-strength tape. Performance Fibers engineers high-strength fibers with a wide range of properties to meet these needs, including endurance, dyeability, excellent tensile strength, low elongation and abrasion resistance. 

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Offshore Mooring: SeaGard^® marine overlay finish

 Performance Fibers’ offshore mooring fibers feature a reduced weight-to-strength ratio which facilitates increased platform deck loads in deep water. The tailored fiber modulus of these products acts as a shock absorber to help control platform positioning and their low fiber creep allows for greater platform position predictability. SeaGard^® marine overlay finish helps customers create products with excellent wet abrasion resistance for greater long-term durability in demanding salt water environments. Applications include offshore mooring lines for oil production platforms, Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Vessels (FSPOs) and Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs).  

PenTec® Fiber:

PenTec^® fiber offers a revolutionary alternative to rayon for the tire industry. Its high-modulus, low-creep properties are ideal for engineered cordage applications. The optional adhesive topcoat is a smart choice for applications requiring improved adhesion to rubber. 

Rope and Cordage: PenTec^® Fiber

Fibers for ropes and cordage applications provide high strength-to-weight ratios, durability and overall versatility. In the past four decades, these high-performance fibers have helped increase productivity and improved workplace safety. Applications in this segment include docking lines, offshore mooring lines and rigging lines, commercial fishing, yachting and boating.  

Sewing Thread and Industrial Yarn Products: 712 high-tenacity, low-shrinkage fiber, 732 high-tenacity, high-shrinkage fiber, 707 high-tenacity embroidery fiber and colored high-tenacity polyester. 

The company’s continuous filament, core-spun, embroidery and specialty yarns are used in outdoor fabrics, awnings, banners, outdoor signs, flags, technical textiles and apparel. 

1H75 Fiber:

1H75 fiber for tire reinforcement and industrial applications represents advancement in the company’s portfolio of dimensional stable polyester (DSP^® fiber) products. 1H75 fiber is designed to deliver a significant increase in strength, while maintaining dimensional stability, for tire cord, power transmission belting and hose applications. 

Tire Reinforcement: DSP^® polyester fiber, PenTec^® fiber and Beltec^® fiber

Performance Fibers develops and produces some of the world's most advanced fibers and fabrics for reinforcing tires on passenger cars, light and medium duty truck, motorcycles, racing cars and agricultural vehicles. 

Industrial Nylon-6:

Strong and tough, Nylon-6 is the most widely used form of nylon worldwide. Performance Fibers’ industrial Nylon-6 is used in a variety of applications, from tire cord to industrial textiles.

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Headquarters

Production Facilities

Kaiping, China
Employees: 800
Commissioned: 1993
Located in the Guangdong Province of China, Performance Fibers (Kaiping) Company Limited’s plant produces DSP^® fibers for tire reinforcement, automotive and other industrial and consumer uses.  

Longlaville, France
Employees: 300
Commissioned: 1993
Products produced in Longlaville include DSP^® and 1W78 fibers. 

Bad Hersfeld, Germany
Employees: 580
Commissioned: 1966
The Bad Hersfeld plant produces high- and low-denier industrial products for customers in the sewing thread, industrial and automotive industries. The site also operates a low-denier R&D center. 

Bobingen, Germany
Employees: 200
Commissioned: 1958
The Bobingen plant produces high-denier fibers for use in technical fabrics, mechanical rubber goods and automotive restraints. The site also operates a high-denier R&D center. 

Guben, Germany
Employees: 45
Commissioned: 1966
The Guben plant produces high-denier fibers that are used in technical fabrics. 

Querétaro, México
Employees: 470
Commissioned: 1975
The Querétaro plant produced PET HMLS, PET HDI and industrial Nylon-6 for use in tire cord and industrial textiles. 

Scottsboro, Alabama, USA
Employees: 40
Commissioned: 1970
The Scottsboro plant produces dipped fabrics. 

Winfield, Alabama, USA
Employees: 100
Commissioned: 2001
The Winfield plant is a fabric conversion facility serving the tire segment. 

Moncure, North Carolina, USA
Employees: 460
Commissioned: 1971
Performance Fibers’ Moncure plant, located in New Hill, North Carolina, produces DSP^® fiber; standard, low-shrink and low-denier polyester and adhesive activated fiber. 

Salisbury, North Carolina, USA
Employees: 550
Commissioned: Late 1960s
The Salisbury plant produces HMLS tire yarn and HDI yarn; polymer chip (external use) and multiplex. 

Shelby, North Carolina, USA
Employees: 140
Commissioned: 1958
The Shelby plant, located in Grover, North Carolina, produces industrial polyester sewing thread fiber. 

Winnsboro, South Carolina, USA
Employees: 200
Commissioned: 1898
The Winnsboro plant produces industrial polyester tire cord fabric.

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Total Performance Fibers Employees: approximately 4,000

Web Site:

www.performancefibers.com 

Business Leadership

Gregory S. Rogowski – President, Chief Executive Officer

Richard Black – Vice President, Global Marketing and Technology

Alexander J. Carnevale – Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Christopher L. Fieber – Vice President, Corporate Strategy

Thomas Gebbia, Jr. – Vice President, Business Productivity

Fred Indermaur – Vice President and General Manager, Americas

James A. Johnson, II – Vice President, Chief Information Officer

Hongjian Sha – Vice President and Managing Director, Asia

Marc Sicre – Vice President and Managing Director - Europe

Kristin Sydnor – Vice President, Human Resources

Ronald Werner – Vice President, General Counsel

Torben Wetche – Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Information contained in this document is effective as of March 10, 2008.

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