Kolon Industries doubles aramid production facility

South Korea's industrial materials maker Kolon Industries Inc. doubled its aromatic polyamide fibers (aramid) production capacity after completing a 298.9 billion won ($230 million) expansion at its Gumi plant.

The company now boasts an annual capacity of 15,310 tons, making it the top domestic producer of aramid, which is known as Super Fiber.

Kolon Industries leveraged advanced ICT to build a next-gen smart factory featuring a fully automated packaging line and bio-gas mixed combustion for sustainable operations.

Aramid, five times stronger than steel by weight and heat-resistant up to 500°C, is a key material used in various fields, including bulletproof vests, optical cables, electric vehicle tires, and brake pads.

Write to Jae-Fu Kim at hu@hankyung.com