August 29, 2013
Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.
Asahi Kasei Chemicals has decided to construct a plant in China for Duranol™ polycarbonatediol (PCD), an intermediate for high-performance polyurethanes.
PCD is used to make high-performance polyurethanes with characteristics such as exceptional heat resistance and water resistance. Demand for PCD is growing throughout the world as the polyurethane market increasingly shifts toward higher-performance. A highly functional PCD developed by Asahi Kasei Chemicals, Duranol™ features greater compatibility than ordinary PCD and enables polyurethanes to be obtained with greater softness than is possible with ordinary PCD. Duranol™ has the leading share of the Asian PCD market for polyurethanes for synthetic leather in automotive interiors, polyurethane coatings, and UV-curable polyurethanes. Demand for highly functional PCD is forecasted to continue to grow briskly throughout Asia and especially in China as a major center for manufacturing automobiles and consumer electronics.
Asahi Kasei Chemicals currently produces Duranol™ at a plant in its Mizushima Works, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan. The new plant in China will enable the company to meet demand growth with a stable supply infrastructure in Asia, reinforcing its position as a leading supplier of highly functional materials to manufacturers of high-performance polyurethanes, including Duranate™ HDI-based polyisocyanate.
Outline of the new PCD plant
| Site: | Plant grounds of Asahi Kasei Performance Chemicals Corp. | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity: | 3,000 tons/year* | |
| Groundbreaking: | Spring 2014 | |
| Start-up: | Early 2015 |
Profile of Asahi Kasei Performance Chemicals Corp.
| Location: | Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area, Nantong, Jiangsu, China | |
|---|---|---|
| Chairman: | Atsushi Suzuki | |
| Paid-in capital: | ¥3.55 billion | |
| Ownership: | Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp. 62%, Asahi Kasei (China) Co., Ltd. 38%* | |
| Operation: | Manufacture and sale of Duranate™ HDI-based polyisocyanate |
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