A new DuPont Performance Coatings plant has begun manufacturing operations in the Jiading district of Shanghai. Plans for the new facility, which primarily will serve the Chinese automotive refinish market, were announced in the second quarter of 2006.

The new DuPont Jiading plant, near Shanghai, will supply automotive refinish coatings and industrial finishes to China and other Asia Pacific markets.

"The on-time opening of the Jiading plant is another major milestone in the transformation of our performance coatings business into an organization with strong global capabilities," said Terry Caloghiris, group vice president, DuPont Coatings & Color Technologies. "The Chinese automotive collision repair market is one of the fastest growing in the world, so this plant positions us to serve it in a responsive and efficient manner."

The new plant currently employs 160 people. Employment is expected to grow to approximately 250 once manufacturing operations reach capacity. The plant is the company's tenth finishes-related investment in China. It was designed with a "lean manufacturing" layout, a comprehensive term referring to manufacturing methods based on maximizing value and minimizing waste while operating safely.

"This facility enables us to supply our customers quickly and effectively with the most technologically advanced coatings in the world," said John McCool, vice president and general manager, DuPont Refinish Systems. "In addition to collision repair products, this plant will supply the rapidly growing economies of the Asia Pacific region with coatings specially designed for trucks, heavy equipment and a variety of industrial applications."