Celanese AG, Frankfurt, Germany, said its Ticona business unit recently completed construction of a new 30,000 metric-ton per-year production plant for the company's GUR ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene. The plant, located in Bishop, TX, doubles Ticona's GUR capacity in North America and will replace an existing facility in Bayport, TX. The company said the plant will bring its total global GUR capacity to 60,000 mt/year, and will help to meet growing market demand. The product is described as possessing a very low coefficient of friction, and is said to provide a high level of abrasion resistance and toughness in a variety of uses, including wear-resistant and texturing additives for coatings and elastomers.