Invista, the leader in spandex production, has expanded its spandex venture plant in Foshan, China. The plant will add approximately 12.5 kilotons of spandex production, raising total annual capacity to 24.5 kilotons in response to Asia’s growing demand for high quality spandex products.

The plant now operates four production lines for spandex fibres for multiple textile processing applications and with a total investment of more than US$227 million, the venture between Invista and Foshan Plastics Group Co., Ltd is said to be the largest foreign investment ever in Guangdong’s fibre industry.

“China has become the largest spandex consuming country in the world. With the expansion of our Foshan site, Invista continues to demonstrate its commitment to the global market and China, and our ability to anticipate and meet the changing needs of the market,” said David Trerotola, president of Invista Apparel, at the opening ceremony.

Leaders from the Foshan municipal government, the Sanshui district government and the Xinan town government as well as other guests and Invista representatives gathered to witness the plant’s opening.

As one of the largest spandex plants in the world, the venture site is said to use world-class production technology and strives to achieve safety, health and environmental excellence in operations.

Invista says that to date the Foshan expansion project and site operations teams have achieved more than 4.5 million safe work hours with no incidents. In addition, it has received the Safety Manufacturing and Fire-fighting Excellence Award from the Xinan Town of Sanshui District, Foshan government for four consecutive years since 2007.

“As a world-leading spandex producer, we do not just focus on building capacity, but also on bringing innovations to meet the needs of the industry and the consumers,” said Trerotola.

“As part of these efforts, we are moving forward with our plan to set up a China Textile Research Center in Qingpu district of Shanghai to support the development and commercialization of new fibre, fabric and garment innovations. The facility is expected to commence operations in the middle of 2012.”