Japan

Leading companies from the resin supply, moldmaking, and injection molding machinery industries have joined forces in a technical cooperation to help promote and support polycarbonate automotive glazing in Japan. Bayer MaterialScience brings its Makrolon-brand polycarbonate (PC) to the project, with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries supplying its injection molding machinery expertise, and Kyowa Industrial its moldmaking prowess.

Many plastics processors are as yet unfamiliar with nanoparticle-sized additives and fillers, but that may soon change as suppliers rapidly ramp up capacity for these in anticipation of continued strong demand, primarily at first in the electrics/electronics industry, but also in sporting goods and other markets. 

Just as Europe and North America have been forced to grapple with the new supply realities of the Middle East and China's rapid polyolefin supply buildout, Japan's petrochemical industry is also coping with wholly new trade dynamics. Tetsu Wakabayashi, president of Sumitomo Chemical America, told attendees of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) International Polyolefins Conference (Feb.

Plastics supplier Polyplastics Co. Ltd. has raised its production capacity for its Vectra-brand of liquid crystal polymer (LCP) by 5000 tons/year, with the expansion coming at the supplier’s Fuji facility.

Exploiting what it calls the world’s highest level of water vapor barrier properties, Mitsubishi Plastics Inc. (MPI; Tokyo) is now supplying Barrier Photovoltaic (PV) Back sheet film for use in solar cells. In July 2008, MPI launched X-Barrier, with water vapor transmission of 10^-4 g/m²/day.

Injection molding machine makers Milacron LLC and Fanuc Ltd. have jointly announced that the former would continue to provide and support the latter’s all-electric Roboshot molding machines throughout the Americas, a vote of confidence in newly reorganized Milacron by its Japanese partner of 26 years.

Japanese blowmolding machine manufacturer Tahara Machinery Ltd. (Tokyo) has licensed Graham Packaging Company LP (York, PA) to manufacture its all-electric line of machines and market them in Europe.

A new joint venture will combine the plastic film processing and polymer science capabilities of Toray with the lithium-ion battery separator film business and technology TonenGeneral Sekiyu KK.

Ethylene prices shot higher in Asia last week, according to Polymerupdate, riding a demand surge in Southeast Asia. FOB Korea ethylene rose to $930/tonne, with CFR Southeast Asia prices at $1015/tonne. In addition to improved demand, the market was impacted by higher energy, naphtha, and downstream polyethylene prices, as well as the start-up of Shell’s new 750,000-tonnes/yr mono ethylene glycol (MEG) plant in Singapore.

Already at the leading edge of the environmentally friendly vehicle segment with its Prius hybrid, The Toyota Motor Corp. continues to work at the forefront through incorporation of natural reinforcing fibers in its vehicles.