Eastman Chemical Company is to open a new production facility for acetate tow in Heifei, which will be owned and operated by Eastman Shuangwei Fibers Company Limited (ESFCL), a joint venture with China National Tobacco Corporation.

The new plant, which is the company's first investment in China for an acetate tow plant, will produce 30,000 metric tonnes of acetate tow upon completion. It is expected to be operational in mid-2013.
Acetate tow is used in the production of cigarette filters. (pi)