Formica Opens New Laminate Plant in China

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7 November 2013   |   Announcements

Formica Opens New Laminate Plant in China

Fletcher Building’s Formica Group opened a new production facility in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province in November 2013 - the largest factory investment by a New Zealand company in China.

The NZD$77M plant is one of the largest facilities in Formica’s international operations, and marks a substantial new phase of development in Asia for Formica and Fletcher Building.

Fletcher Building Chief Executive Mark Adamson announced the opening of Formica’s new laminate plant in Jiujiang, a city of about 4.8 million people. Government officials from Jiujiang City were in attendance as the doors to the new modern plant opened – two years on from when Formica and the Jiujiang government signed as agreement for its construction.

Mr Adamson said China is a key global player in decorative materials production, consumption and exportation. The Jiujiang plant sets a benchmark for sustainable production in the decorative materials industry, he says.

“Fletcher Building as well as Formica Group has made a considerable investment in best practice material sourcing, waste management, energy efficiency and emission control,” Mr Adamson said.

The plant in Jiujiang houses 10 production presses which are capable of producing 45 million square metres of laminate per annum between them. It is the only facility in China capable of providing high pressure laminate sized 6 by 14-feet, for which there is high demand from China and Europe.

Formica has been in China for more than 20 years and last decade, undertook the construction and commissioning of a new plant in Qing Pu, on the outskirts of Shanghai.

Paul Zuckerman, Chief Executive of Fletcher Building’s Laminates and Panels division, says China’s rapid economic development has boosted demand for better commercial and residential working and living environments.

“This will boost demand for green, multi-functional and high-quality laminate surfacing products. As part of our global strategy, Formica Decorative Materials (China) Co will not only feed China’s rapidly growing appetite for top quality laminate products, but also create maximum values to other markets,” Mr Zuckerman says.

Sustainable technologies adopted at Formica’s new plant in Jiujiang

  • Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) industrial process for the treatment of exhaust air, which reduces exhaust emissions to an extremely low level
  • The most advanced ventilation systems is in compliance with the strictest national standards
  • A 1000 m3 rain drop collecting system to reuse the water for gardening and for cleaning.

New records for modern and sustainable production

  • Comprehensive product size solution provider - Formica China now becomes the first and only HPL manufacturer to offer customers the most comprehensive product size portfolio, including 4*8, 5*10, 5*12, 6*12, 6*14 feet
  • Introduction of a new range of interior door products for the global residential market: The 6*14 feet offers the best size advantage for 3*7 door application and marks a new milestone for Formica China
  • Dedicated production line for the second brand, Fulihua laminates highlights the groups’ aggressive business development strategy from high end to mid-tier market
  • World-class Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS): The new warehousing system, with 9.02m height, total 1350 storage cubes, is the best warehousing support for the production capacity of the plant and is expected to service customers throughout Asia.

More about Formica Group.