Invista

INVISTA

Industry	Spandex, Resin, Chemical, Polymer
Headquarters	Wichita, Kansas, United States
Parent	Koch Industries
Website	www.invista.com

Invista, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, United States, is the world's largest integrated fiber, resin and intermediates company. It has about 10,000 employees in over 20 countries worldwide.^[1] DuPont originally formed the company as a subsidiary in 2003 from its textile fibers division and named it DuPont Textiles and Interiors while a permanent identity was established.^[2] The company was given the trademarked name INVISTA and was then sold to privately owned Koch Industries in April 2004.^[3] Koch Industries combined the newly acquired organization with their KoSa subsidiary to complete the INVISTA company.^[4]

Operations

INVISTA's products include brands such as LYCRA® fiber, STAINMASTER® carpeting, CORDURA® durable fabrics, TACTEL® nylon fiber, and ANTRON® commercial carpet fiber as well as a variety of polyester resins and specialty intermediates. INVISTA has won a number of environmental, health, and safety awards.^[5][6][7] In March 2011, for example, INVISTA’s fiber facility in Monterrey, Mexico received the “Safe Company Recognition” from La Secretaria del Trabajo y Previsión Social (STPS), which placed INVISTA at the highest level recognized by the Mexican Labor Authority^[8] Also, INVISTA’s Victoria site received the Employer Award of Excellence from the Texas Workforce Commission for making a positive impact on employers, workers and the community.^[9]

In 2008, Invista sued Rhodia, a chemical company, for theft and misappropriation of a chemical process technology used to produce nylon 6,6.^[10]

In February 2009, INVISTA announced a refinancing and capitalization plan that had reduced its debt by $1.6 billion since the previous June.^[11] In the same year, Invista was the launch sponsor for WWDChina Week in Review, a weekly fashion publication.^[12] Also in 2009, INVISTA agreed to pay a $1.7 million civil penalty and spend up to $500 million to correct self-reported environmental violations at its facilities in seven states.^[13][14] Prior to the settlement, the company had disclosed to the EPA more than 680 violations after auditing 12 facilities acquired from DuPont in 2004.^[15][16] In June 2012, DuPont & INVISTA agreed to an out of court settlement to resolve indemnification issues related to these environmental issues ^[17]

Environmental record

INVISTA and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) agreed in 2008 “to collaborate, share knowledge and further strengthen safety and health management systems at seven US Invista sites.” The firm and OSHA sought to “use their collective expertise to expand and implement robust safety and health management systems at the seven participating worksites.”^[18]

INVISTA was recognized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2009 for self-reporting environmental violations. According to the EPA, "the emission reductions resulting from correcting these violations will result in estimated annual human health benefits valued at over $325 million, including 30 fewer premature deaths per year, 2,000 fewer days/year when people would miss school or work, and over 9,000 fewer cases of upper and lower respiratory symptoms."^[19]

Future projects

INVISTA announced in May 2011 plans “to invest more than $100 million in a new LYCRA® fiber production plant in Brazil.” Expected to open in late 2012, the plant would create “about 1,000 new jobs during the construction phase,” according to the firm.^[20]

It was reported in September 2013 that Invista, one of the world's largest integrated producers of polymers and fibers, had “teamed up with Vardhman group, one of India’s largest core spinners, to develop spun yarns with LYCRA® T166L fiber that has been specially designed for robust processing performance in the manufacturing of stretch woven fabrics.”^[21] In the same month, it was announced that Invista would be building “a combined hydrogen and anhydrous ammonia manufacturing unit at its existing site” in Victoria, Texas. The new unit would amount to a “more than $500 million addition” to the present installation.^[22] It was also reported in that month that INVISTA had “acquired ADVANSA's assets in the Specialty Polyester products sector for apparel end uses.”^[23]

INVISTA announced in October 2013 that it would be partnering with the British firm Ingenza Ltd. to develop bio-derived chemicals. The work would take place primarily at Ingenza's labs in Edinburgh, Scotland. Warren Primeaux, president of Invista Intermediates, said, “Invista believes biotechnology has the potential to significantly improve the cost and availability of several chemicals and raw materials that are used to produce its current products.”^[1]

References

External links

• Official website
• DuPont Company records on "Stainmaster" (1985-1992) at Hagley Museum and Library. Files include advertising materials, product literature, sales aids (for retailers), information on the development of the “Stainmaster” logo, a file on personnel, as well as one on environmental concerns from within the DuPont Company.
• DuPont Company Textile Fabrics Department videotapes, photographs, slides and promotions (1918-2004) at Hagley Museum and Library.