March 28, 2014
Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.
Asahi Kasei Chemicals completed the construction of a new acetonitrile plant in Tongsuh Petrochemical’s plant grounds in Ulsan, Korea, and started up its operation in January 2014. An opening ceremony for the new plant was held on March 27, 2014.
Acetonitrile is mainly used as a solvent in the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients and pharmaceutical intermediates, with other notable uses including as an analytical reagent and in the field of agrichemicals. Asahi Kasei Chemicals had supplied world markets with its 14,000 ton/year acetonitrile plant in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan, but sought to increase production capacity to meet demand in the pharmaceutical and analytical reagent fields, which especially require stable supply. The start-up of the new plant provides Asahi Kasei Chemicals with a second production base for acetonitrile, enhancing its ability to assure reliable supply as Asia’s leading supplier, and enabling it to meet growing demand for acetonitrile in line with the expanding pharmaceutical industry in India and other countries.
Outline of the new acetonitrile plant
| Location: | Within Tongsuh Petrochemical’s Ulsan plant grounds | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity: | 11,000 tons/year | |
| Groundbreaking: | March 2012 | |
| Start-up: | January 2014 |
Corporate profile of Tongsuh Petrochemical Corp., Ltd.
| Location: | Ulsan, Korea | |
|---|---|---|
| President: | Jong-Pil Huh | |
| Capital: | 237.6 billion won (approx. ¥23 billion) | |
| Shareholder: | Asahi Kasei Corp. (100%) | |
| Main products: | AN, NaCN, etc. |
The opening ceremony for new acetonitrile plant
Notable attendees: (from left) Mr. Shuichi Sakamoto, Executive Officer, Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.; Mr. Kenji Hamai, Senior Executive Officer, Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.; Mr. Tsuneo Takemoto, Primary Executive Officer, Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.; Mr. Yoshio Negishi, Primary Executive Officer, Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.; Mr. Jong-Pil Huh, President, Tongsuh Petrochemical Corp., Ltd.; Mr. Motomichi Kishino, Vice President, Tongsuh Petrochemical Corp., Ltd.; Mr. Myung-Jin Baek, Director, POSCO Engineering & Construction, Ltd.
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