Auto applications spur PVC, elastomer investmentsAuto applications spur PVC, elastomer investments
Strong prospects for automotive in China, Thailand and the U.S. have prompted Japanese materials supplier Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Tokyo) to expand capacities for PVC compound, olefin thermoplastic elastomer (TPO) and adhesive polymer at locations in North America and Asia.
June 9, 2011
The company currently supplies PVC compounds for automobile interior and exterior parts and for electric cable & wire to Thailand and neighboring countries through its subsidiary Sunprene (Thailand) Co. (Samutsakhon). Demand for automobiles in Thailand and neighboring countries has continued to increase in recent years, and is expected to increase further in the future. In response to this growing demand, Mitsubishi Chemical will expand the PVC compound production facility at the Amata Nakorn Plant of Sunprene (Thailand) by 4000 tonnes/year with production start-up scheduled for April 2012. Current production capacity stands at 15,000 tonnes/year.
In North America, meanwhile, Mitsubishi Chemical Performance Polymers (Greer, SC) will boost capacity for TPO and adhesive polymer by 1800 tonnes/year from current capacity of 9,200 tonnes/year. The new capacity will be on-stream in November 2011. TPO is primarily used in airbag covers.
In China, a new production facility for TPO and adhesive polymer will be established in Suzhou, adjacent to Shanghai. APCO (Suzhou) Co. will start producing at a 4500-tonnes/year plant in May 2012.-[email protected]
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