Completion of Kawasaki Innovation Center

December 3, 2012
Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.

Asahi Kasei Chemicals has completed the construction of its Kawasaki Innovation Center, a new integrated R&D facility located at the company’s Kawasaki Works in Kanagawa, Japan. Utilization of the facility will begin on December 17, 2012.

Under the Asahi Kasei Group’s “For Tomorrow 2015” mid-term management initiative, Asahi Kasei Chemicals is proactively expanding its global operations including acrylonitrile (AN) and solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR) as strategic world-leading business. At the same time, the company is focusing on creating new businesses in the field of the environment and energy by concentrating on R&D in technology for catalyst and polymer design, surface control, and membrane systems.

The Kawasaki Innovation Center brings together several R&D organizations for monomers and performance chemicals in a single shared facility to enable greater interaction among researchers in diverse fields. Features to further encourage interaction include a large common breakroom, open laboratories and instruments, and an exhibition space where R&D results are displayed. With this atmosphere conducive to interdepartmental communication, the new center will facilitate the integration and advancement of various technology. The overall R&D environment is enhanced by balancing openness with high security, incorporating an advanced document management system and IT systems, and employing the latest energy conservation technology.

Asahi Kasei Chemicals will leverage this new R&D center to integrate and advance high-level technology to support the further expansion of its world-leading businesses and accelerate the creation of new businesses.

Overview of the Kawasaki Innovation Center

Location:   Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan (within the Kawasaki Works of Asahi Kasei Chemicals)
Facility:   Eight-story, reinforced-concrete building with total floor area of 7,770 m2
Construction:   November 2011 to December 2012
Investment:   ≈ ¥2 billion
R&D fields:   Catalyst and polymer design, surface control, environmental systems
Personnel:   140
Energy-saving features:  
  • Push-pull fume hoods for experiments using organic solvents, toxic substances, etc.
  • LED lighting throughout the building
  • Photocatalytic coating on exterior walls for long-lasting durability and excellent antifouling performance
Start of utilization:   December 17, 2012

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