May 14, 2007 |
Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd.
Asahi Kasei Pharma Corp.
|
Integration of spinning and assembly lines in a new plant for dry-pack
polysulfone-membrane dialyzers
|
| |
Asahi Kasei Medical (AM) will construct a new plant in the Okatomi district of Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Japan with integrated spinning and assembly lines to produce dry-pack APST polysulfone-membrane dialyzers. The new plant will raise total APST production capacity to 26 million modules/year, in line with a plan to expand capacity to 30 million modules/year by 2010.
The plant will exclusively produce a new line of dry-pack APST dialyzers, which are not pre-filled with sterilized water prior to shipment. With its smaller size and light weight, the new dry product line will enable energy conservation, easier handling, and more efficient distribution and storage. Production will utilize continuous and automated processes at a single plant integrating a hollow-fiber membrane spinning line and a module assembly line, for high productivity and consistent product quality.
|
| Essentials of the new plant |
| |
Site: Okatomi, Nobeoka, Miyazaki |
| |
Groundbreaking schedule: July 2007 |
| |
Start-up schedule: September 2008 |
| |
Hollow-fiber membrane spinning capacity: 6 million modules-equivalent/year |
| |
Dialyzer module assembly capacity: 5.5 million modules/year |
| |
Investment: Approx. ¥7.5 billion |
| |
|
|
The market for dialyzers, also called artificial kidneys, is growing steadily in Japan and throughout the world, as the number of hemodialysis patients increases and facilities for hemodialysis therapy become increasingly available. Demand growth is particularly strong for polysulfone-membrane dialyzers, due to their exceptional performance and biocompatibility.
Japan's leading dialyzer manufacturer, AM is focused on contributing to the advancement of hemodialysis therapy through the ongoing development of superior new products and production technologies, while meeting rising worldwide demand with timely expansions of production capacity. The new plant is part of an ongoing program of R&D and capital investments to heighten the trust and satisfaction of the hemodialysis community, to advance Japan's world-leading hemodialysis technology, and ultimately contribute to the quality of life for hemodialysis patients.
The addition of the new dry APS™ product line, as with the integration of Kuraray Medical's EVOH hollow-fiber membrane product lineup, will enhance the ability to respond to the wide variety of needs in hemodialysis therapy through the provision of a broad product range. These developments will serve to reinforce the company's position as Japan's leading dialyzer maker, and accelerate the growth of its global operations. |
| |
|
|
| Asahi Kasei Medical corporate profile |
| |
President: Yasuyuki Yoshida |
| |
Establishment: July 1974 |
| |
Paid-in capital: ¥800 million |
| |
Shareholding: 100% by Asahi Kasei Pharma |
| |
Head office: Tokyo, Japan |
| |
Production facilities: |
| |
|
Nobeoka - production of hollow-fiber dialyzer membrane and other products |
| |
|
Oita - assembly of dialyzers and blood filters |
| |
|
China - assembly of dialyzers |
| |
Employees: Approx. 1,700 (as of March 31, 2007) |
| |
FY 2006 sales: ¥43.1 billion |
| |
Main products: |
| |
|
Dialyzers, therapeutic apheresis products, leukoreduction filters for transfusion, virus removal filters |
| |
|
|
| Dialyzer business overview |
| |
No. of chronic dialysis patients (as of Dec. 31, 2005): |
| |
|
Japan - 260 thousand (incl. peritoneal dialysis)* |
| |
|
Worldwide - 1.3 million (incl. Japan)† |
| |
Dialyzer market scale (2005):† |
| |
|
Japan - 37 million modules |
| |
|
Worldwide - 120 million modules |
| |
Asahi Kasei Medical market share (2006):† |
| |
|
Japan - 37% (ranked No. 1) |
| |
|
Worldwide - 18% (ranked No. 2) |
| |
|
|
| * According to the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy |
| † Asahi Kasei Medical estimate |
