SINGAPORE: US chemicals company Du Pont has officially opened a 42,000 square foot plastics manufacturing facility in the Tuas industrial area in Singapore.

The company declined to reveal the cost of the latest plant, but said on Thursday the plant is part of a S$200 million investment committed to the country.

The plant will produce Du Pont's Vespel brand of parts and shapes used in various industries such as aerospace and semiconductor.

The company expects the factory to be running at full capacity by the end of 2008.

Its current staff strength of 30 could more than double to 70 as production grows.

This is Du Pont's fifth Vespel plant globally, with the others located in Japan, Belgium, and two in the United States.

Hsing C Ho, Managing Director of Du Pont, said: "We are continuing to grow in the Asia-Pacific region.

"This is the region where Du Pont has most focus in terms of growth. We (will) expect to have further expansion, not just in the ASEAN region but also in China and India and other parts of Asia as well."

- CNA/yb