Filtrona Fibertec Ningbo, China Plant Celebrates Expansion

Filtrona Fibertec Ningbo, China Plant Celebrates Expansion

October 02, 2007

    RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 2 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Filtrona
Fibertec, a division of Filtrona plc, developer of
fiber-based capillary technology and manufacturer of custom
fluid handling components, celebrated the completion of the
recent expansion of its plant in Ningbo, China with a Grand
Opening celebration.  

    ( Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061127/DCM011LOGO )

    The expansion includes an increase of more than double
the size of production floor space and an expanded
analytical laboratory to support the technical service
needs of the regional customer base.  The plant is located
in Ningbo (Zhejiang Province near Shanghai) and its first
phase was completed in 2005.  Construction for the
expansion commenced in late 2006 and was complete by mid
2007.  

    Filtrona Fibertec designs, develops, and manufactures
bonded fiber fluid control components serving a variety of
industrial and consumer markets including writing
instruments, medical diagnostics, inkjet printing systems,
and household products.  

    The Grand Opening celebration was well attended by
customers, high level dignitaries from both government and
business, and the company's senior executives, including
Filtrona plc Chief Executive Mark Harper and Filtrona
Fibertec President Russ Rogers.  Highlights of the
celebration included speeches by the Ningbo Economic
Technical Development group and Filtrona management,
followed by the traditional ribbon cutting ceremony and
fireworks display.   

    With the phase one manufacturing space already near
full utilization, this expansion provides needed room for
Filtrona Fibertec's regional growth and for two other
divisions of Filtrona plc -- Filtrona Extrusions and Moss
Plastic Parts.  "The Filtrona Fibertec expansion
provides the infrastructure and support services from which
a number of our businesses will launch their new commercial
growth efforts in China and the Asia region", said
Mark Harper . 

    During the celebration event, the plant was also
recognized for achieving ISO 9001:2000, ISO 14001, and
OHSAS 18001 certifications for quality management,
environmental compliance and health & safety systems,
by BSI Management Systems, the world's leading
international standards testing, registration and
certification organization. 

    Filtrona Fibertec is announcing this expansion along
with ongoing upgrades and capital investment in both the
Richmond, Virginia (USA) and Reinbek, Germany facilities. 
"This expansion is a key part of Filtrona Fibertec's
commitment to a 3 region growth strategy supporting our
customers globally, and we will continue to invest in the
resources needed to support this growth and our
customers", said Russ Rogers.   

    "We continue to be excited at the many new
business development opportunities in the global market and
will continue to support the growth objectives of our
customers in the region with this new facility", said
Dirk Kemper, Filtrona Fibertec's Executive Vice President
-- Global Sales.  

    Based in Richmond, Virginia USA, Filtrona Fibertec (
http://www.filtronafibertec.com ) is a leading manufacturer
of customized bonded fiber components for fluid and vapor
handling used in consumer, medical and industrial products.
Filtrona Fibertec has manufacturing locations in North
America, Europe and Asia and is a division of Filtrona plc,
a global specialty plastic and fiber products supplier based
in the United Kingdom with 37 manufacturing facilities and
5,600 employees.


    For more information, please contact: 

     Jeff Shugart
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]