The sudden economic turmoil and severe currency
devaluations which have beset much the Asian region have led
to downward revisions in forecasts for polyacetal demand.
As a consequence, Asahi Chemical has deferred construction
of its Singapore polyacetal plant for one year, and the plant
construction schedule is being reviewed.
The subsidiary Asahi Kasei Tenac Singapore
Pte Ltd. was incorporated in Singapore in November 1996, and
construction of a 20,000 ton polyacetal copolymer plant on
Pulau Sakra began in September 1997, with commercial production
slated for early 1999.
The company’s basic long-range policy
remains unchanged, for active growth and development of polyacetal
operations.
Overview of Asahi Chemical polyacetal
operations
| Production facility: |
Mizushima Works, Okayama Prefecture |
| Production capacity: |
24,000 metric tons/year copolymer
20,000 metric tons/year homopolymer |
Polyacetal is an engineering plastic with outstanding hardness,
friction, and abrasion characteristics; used in electronics,
automotive, and other industrial applications.
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