Composite maker Hanwha Azdel Inc. will add space and a new production line at its Lynchburg, Va., production facility, the company announced April 16. Driven by growing demand for lightweight composites from automotive, recreational vehicle, commercial truck and other end markets, the company is adding capacity for Azdel SuperLite reinforced thermoplastic composite material.
The RV industry is a key growth area for Hanwha Azdel, Sean Campbell, director of global marketing, said in a statement.
“If you look at key industry trends in the transportation industry, particularly the RV segment, they're really fueling rapid growth of Azdel SuperLite composites,” he said. “With legislative mandates for improved fuel economy or lower greenhouse-gas emissions in many parts of the globe, transportation OEMs need to reduce vehicle mass significantly.
“While those mandates don't impact RV manufacturers directly, lighter RVs use less fuel and can be pulled or powered by engines with lower towing capacities. Since our materials are half the weight of plywood, they have a strong value proposition. They also are far more impact and puncture resistant than plywood.”
The new production line is scheduled to be operational in the second quarter of 2015.
