November 15, 2011
Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp.
Asahi Kasei Chemicals today held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Kawasaki Innovation Center, to be located within the grounds of the company’s Kawasaki Works in Kanagawa, Japan.
The decision by Asahi Kasei Chemicals to construct the new center was made for the purpose of strengthening R&D in the fields of monomers & catalysts, synthetic rubber, and performance chemicals through the integration and advancement of a shared technology platform. With the establishment of the Kawasaki Innovation Center, Asahi Kasei Chemicals will accelerate both the development of new technologies and the creation of new businesses in these fields.
Overview of the new R&D center
| Name: | Kawasaki Innovation Center |
|---|---|
| Location: | Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan (within the premises of the Kawasaki Works) |
| Groundbreaking: | November 15, 2011 |
| Start of utilization: | September 2012 (scheduled) |
| Investment: | ≈ ¥2 billion |
The Asahi Kasei Group launched a new mid-term initiative “For Tomorrow 2015” this April, with two key business strategies of “expansion of world-leading businesses” and “creation of new value for society.” As part of the first of these strategies, businesses being further reinforced include acrylonitrile (AN), solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR), and Duranate™ HDI-based polyisocyanate. The second of these strategies includes the creation of new businesses related to the field of the environment and energy through proactive investments in R&D for technologies such as catalysts, polymer design, interface control, and membrane systems.
With a cross-functional R&D configuration, the Kawasaki Innovation Center will integrate and advance catalyst and process technology for AN, MMA, and synthetic rubber, innovative technology for performance coating materials such as Duranate™, and membrane system technology, as well as enhance cooperation with other organizations of the Asahi Kasei Group. As such, the new center will swiftly and precisely meet customer needs with world-leading technology based on a perspective that extends to commercialization.
The new center will also incorporate a high-safety, environmentally friendly design, with push-pull fume hoods and lighting systems that feature the latest energy-saving technology, and photocatalytic coating on exterior walls for long-lasting durability and excellent antifouling performance.
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