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27 Nov 2008  -  United States

AGY increases S-2 glass fiber manufacturing capacity by an additional 20 percent

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AGY, a leading global producer of glass fiber yarns and high-strength glass fiber reinforcements, announced on November 20, 2008 that it has increased production capacity of its S-2 Glass® fiber products by another twenty percent in response to continued and robust demand for composite armour systems in U.S. military vehicles.

“This increase is in addition to the 50 percent increase we already announced earlier this year following the completion of our new manufacturing facility in Aiken, South Carolina,” said Drew Walker, AGY Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We have already shipped a record amount of S-2 Glass fiber products in 2008, far exceeding previous records set in 2005, 2006 and 2007.”

Fueling the demand for S-2 Glass fiber products are programs currently underway to provide U.S. forces in Iraq and, increasingly, in Afghanistan, with armored vehicles that provide state-of-the-art protection against roadside bombs, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and explosively formed projectiles (EFPs). Walker said that S-2 Glass composite armor systems, which have proven highly successful in protecting military vehicles such as the Humvee (High-Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle) and MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected) vehicles, are now being directed into smaller, more agile versions of the MRAP.

Originally developed for military applications in the 1960’s, S-2 Glass fiber products were first introduced to the commercial market in 1968. S-2 Glass products offer a tensile strength exceeding that of standard-modulus carbon fiber and most grades of aramid fiber. Its high strain-to-failure of 5.7% (compared to aramid’s 2.8% and carbon’s 1.5%) results in its exceptional ability to withstand ballistic and other types of impacts. AGY currently offers S-2 Glass fiber products that are compatible with epoxies, polyesters, vinyl esters, rubber, and many thermoplastic resins. S-2 Glass fiber products are produced exclusively by AGY.

AGY remains committed to helping protect U.S. troops said Walker and added “With this additional increase in output, we will continue to be well equipped to meet the growing demands of the market.”


About AGY
AGY is a leading global producer of glass fiber yarns and high-strength glass fiber reinforcements used in a variety of composites applications. The company serves a diverse range of markets including aerospace and defense, electronics, construction and industrial. Headquartered in Aiken, South Carolina U.S., AGY has a European office in Lyon, France and manufacturing facilities in the U.S. in Aiken, South Carolina and Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.

Source : AGY