Asahi Kasei Corporation (AKC) and Formosa
Plastics Corporation (FPC) have concluded an agreement
for the provision of AKC membrane process equipment with
a 300,000 ton/year capacity, to be installed at FPC’s
salt electrolysis plant at Mai-Liao in Taiwan.
FPC plant expansion
The membrane process equipment now on order will comprise the fourth
salt electrolysis train at FPC’s Mai-Liao Chloro-Alkali Plant, raising
the total plant capacity to 1.09 million tons/year and making it one of the world’s
largest membrane-process salt electrolysis facilities.
The FPC plant currently operates three salt electrolysis trains with
a total capacity of 790,000 tons/year. All three trains are composed of AKC ion-exchange
membrane process equipment and systems, supplied to FPC under an initial order
for two trains which were brought on-stream in 1999 and a second order for one
train which went into operation in 2000. Competitive bidding has now led to the
present order, the third from FPC in the past several years.
The new train will incorporate the zero-gap electrolyzer developed
by AKC, which brings new reductions in electric power consumption to the salt
electrolysis process. FPC’s selection of this electrolyzer, and the related
equipment and systems, is based on its recognition of the AKC capability for
development and provision of advanced technologies and for its process, equipment,
and systems performance and reliability.
AKC global presence
AKC is the world’s leading supplier of membrane salt electrolysis
equipment and systems and the world’s only manufacturer of the full complement
of electrolysis system components, including ion exchange membranes as well as
electrolyzers, anodes, and cathodes, provided in combination with the requisite
process technology and operational expertise. Provision of the process equipment
for the new train at the FPC plant will consolidate this world-leading position,
and further its continuing growth and development.
AKC salt electrolysis equipment, components, and systems are the
choice of leading chlor-alkali producers throughout the world, including the
world’s largest producer Dow Chemical (1.33 million tons/year by AKC process),
Formosa Plastics (1.11 million tons/year after planned expansion, by AKC process),
Akzo Chemie (490,000 tons/year by AKC process). With their current and planned
operation at more than 60 salt electrolysis plants in the U.S.A., Canada, the
Netherlands, Germany, China, South Korea, and many other countries, they account
in total for more than seven million tons per year in production capacity, or
nearly one-third of the world capacity for caustic soda production by the ion-exchange
membrane process.
Essentials of agreement
| Supply |
Asahi Kasei Corporation |
| Purchase |
Formosa Plastics Corporation |
| Plant location |
Mailiao Village, Yunlin County, Taiwan |
| Production capacity |
300,000 tons/year (100% caustic soda
base) |
| Equipment |
ML32NCZ electrolyzers (natural circulation,
high current density, zero gap) and related accessories
for one salt electrolysis train |
| Scheduled start-up |
December 2004 |
AKC corporate notes
| Head Office |
1-1-2 Yuraku-cho, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo, Japan |
| President |
Shiro Hiruta |
| Paid-in capital |
¥103.4 billion (as of 31 March 2003) |
| Net sales |
¥1.19 trillion (consolidated, year
ended 31 March 2003) |
AKC ion-exchange membranes and systems
AKC is the only company in the world that manufactures and supplies
the full complement of equipment, components, and systems for salt electrolysis
by the membrane process, including ion-exchange membranes, electrolyzers, anodes
and cathodes, and other related components, together with the requisite process
technology and engineering.
Its bipolar ion-exchange membrane salt electrolysis process technology
is the result of more than thirty years of continuing development and advancement,
dating from its initial pioneering development in the early 1970s, and has been
characterized throughout by low electric power consumption and an environmental
burden that is significantly lower than that of either the mercury or the diaphragm
process for salt electrolysis.
AKC has long been at the forefront in the development and production
of advanced ion exchange membranes. The newest series in its Aciplex® F membranes,
Series F44, sets new world standards in cell voltage, current efficiency, resistance
to brine impurities, and other vital performance characteristics.
Research and development, manufacturing and fabrication, and sales
and support for AKC salt electrolysis systems, components, and process technology
are conducted by the Ion Exchange Membranes Division of its Specialty Products & Systems
Company.
|
