Asahi Kasei Chemicals Groundbreaking for Solution SBR Plant in Singapore
June 29 2011 - 2:06AM
JCN Newswire (English)
Asahi Kasei Chemicals held a groundbreaking ceremony on June 22,
2011, in Jurong Island, Singapore, for the first phase of
construction of a new plant to produce solution-polymerized
styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR).
The ceremony was attended by some 100 guests including eminent
persons such as Mr. Leo Yip Seng Cheong, Chairman of the Singapore
Economic Development Board (EDB) and Mr. Yoichi Suzuki, Japanese
Ambassador to Singapore, as well as by Mr. Taketsugu Fujiwara,
President of Asahi Kasei Corp.
S-SBR is a synthetic rubber which enables the production of tires
that provide greater fuel efficiency while maintaining safety
performance. With tightening environmental regulations and
heightening environmental awareness, demand for high-performance
tires which provide improved fuel efficiency is growing throughout
the world - and demand for S-SBR which is therefore growing
briskly. At the same time, the overall market for tire rubber in
Asia is expanding as rapid motorization continues and tire
production increasingly shifts to the region.
Asahi Kasei Chemicals is expanding S-SBR operations as strategic
world-leading business, with the new plant in Singapore
representing a major step in diversifying its operation base for
enhanced stability of supply to meet growing demand and customer
needs.
Outline of the new plant
Location: Tembusu district, Jurong Island, Singapore
Capacity: Phase 1 - 50,000 tons/year
Phase 2 - 50,000 tons/ year (planned)
Production: S-SBR for fuel-efficient high-performance tires
Process: Solution polymerization
Scheduled start-up: Phase 1 - May 2013 (Phase 2 - early 2015)
Synthetic rubber business of Asahi Kasei Chemicals
Major products:
- S-SBR, butadiene rubber (BR), thermoplastic elastomer,
transparent styrenic resin.
Capacity for S-SBR (flexible capacity including BR):
- Kawasaki Works - 105,000 tons/year
- Oita Plant* - 35,000 tons/year
- Total - 140,000 tons/year
* Japan Elastomer Co., Ltd., 75% owned subsidiary of Asahi Kasei
Chemicals (25% owned by Showa Denko K.K.)
Company release:
http://www.asahi-kasei.co.jp/asahi/en/news/2011/e110623.html
About S-SBR
Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) is a synthetic copolymer consisting
of styrene and butadiene, produced either by emulsion
polymerization or solution polymerization. Depending on which
production process is used, it is classified as either
emulsion-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber (E-SBR) or
solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR). Whereas
E-SBR is used mainly for standard-grade tires, S-SBR has become the
focus of increasing attention for its essential function of
enhancing tire performance. S-SBR is now increasingly used for
fuel-efficient high-performance tires.
Being an optimal material for improving the balance of performance
characteristics - including abrasion resistance, safety, and fuel
efficiency - the modified S-SBR produced by Asahi Kasei Chemicals
using its continuous polymerization process is widely recognized
among tire manufacturers around the world.
About Asahi Kasei Group
Asahi Kasei provides innovative solutions based in chemistry and
materials science to a diverse range of markets including fibers,
chemicals, consumer products, housing, construction, electronics,
and health care. With consolidated sales of some US$10 billion, it
is a Fortune Global 500 enterprise with twenty-five thousand
employees and one hundred consolidated subsidiaries. The operating
configuration comprises seven core operating companies as
autonomous business units specialized in separate business fields.
Asahi Kasei Corporation, as the parent company, functions as a
holding company for group operations. An Independent Businesses
Group provides group services. For more information, please visit
www.asahi-kasei.co.jp
Source: Asahi Kasei Group
Contact:
Asahi Kasei Corporation
Corporate Communications
Phone: +81-3-3296-3008
Fax: +81-3-3296-3162
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