Asahi Kasei Corp. (TYO:3407) unveiled on May 17 its next-generation concept car. Developed by bringing together the company’s products and technologies, the car of the future is equipped with 27 products and technologies including materials, devices and systems that encapsulate the full capabilities of Asahi Kasei’s automobile business. Asahi Kasei will utilize the vehicle to...
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Japan’s Petrochemical Industry Sees Revitalization With Ethylene Facility Upgrades
A noticeable trend is taking place in Japan with a spurt in capital investment to upgrade petrochemical facilities. Asahi Kasei Mitsubishi Chemical Ethylene Corp. will revamp its facilities at the Mizushima Plant this year to increase ethylene production. Tosoh Corp. (TYO:4042), meanwhile, has begun looking into boosting the efficiency of the company’s ethylene plant in...
Asahi Kasei Combines S-SBR, Sensors for “Intelligent” Next-Generation Tires
Asahi Kasei Corp. (TYO:3407) is set to begin promoting “intelligent” next-generation tires that feature magnetic and acceleration sensors embedded in solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR). Asahi Kasei’s incorporation of both S-SBR and sensor technologies into the same business operation is the first effort of its kind in the world. The company expects to be able to...
Targeting EV Market, Asahi Kasei Microdevices Accelerates Development of High-Performance Current Sensors
Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corp. has accelerated its development of electric current sensors for engine control in electric vehicles (EVs) and other eco-friendly cars. Despite having just launched a new product at the end of 2016 that has a maximum measured electric current of 40 amperes, an effective current of 20 amperes and a drive voltage...
Digest: Chemical Price Hike Announcements for Week of April 10
A series of price hikes were announced by chemical companies during the week of April 10 – April 14. Unless noted otherwise, all price increases listed here are per kilogram. In methyl methacrylate (MMA), Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (TYO:4183) raised prices by 20 yen from April 15, and Asahi Kasei Corp. (TYO:3407) will raise prices by...
Chemical Companies Compete to Develop Polymide for Flexible Displays – Part 2
Competition surrounding the development of polymide (PI) is heating up in the chemical industry. Being targeted for PI development are flexible display boards for mobile devices such as smartphones. Major PI manufacturer Ube Industries Ltd. (TYO:4208) is particularly strong with PI film for two-layer copper clad laminate (CCL). The company has been actively marketing its...
Asahi Kasei Considers Vietnam for Second Base in Global Expansion of Airbag Material Business
Asahi Kasei Corp. (TYO:3407) is moving toward international expansion of its automotive airbag material business. The company has strengthened its fiber production base and has plans to build a second one in Southeast Asia, looking at Vietnam as a top candidate. With these two production bases, the company will work to develop markets in North...
Digest: Chemical Price Hike Announcements for Week of March 27
A series of price hikes were announced by chemical companies during the week of March 27 – March 31. Unless noted otherwise, all price increases listed here are per kilogram. Asahi Kasei Corp. (TYO:3407) increased the price of all styrene-butadiene (SB) latex products by 70 yen or more from April 1. The company will also...
Digest: Chemical Price Hike Announcements for Week of March 20
A series of price hikes were announced by chemical companies during the week of March 20 – March 24. Unless noted otherwise, all price increases listed here are per kilogram. In caustic soda, Asahi Kasei Corp. (TYO:3407) will raise prices by no less than 10 yen ($0.09) for products with 97-percent solid conversion on April...
Asahi Kasei to Sell Modified PPE in Auto Sector as Lightweight Substitute for Many Plastics
Asahi Kasei Corp. (TYO:3407) will market modified polyphenylene ether (PPE) in the automotive sector. Due to the material’s thermal resistance and electrical properties, demand for modified PPE in peripheral parts such as batteries, lights and onboard cameras is growing as automakers outfit vehicles with more electronics. Modified PPE is a strong, lightweight engineering plastic that...
Asahi Kasei to Develop CNF Nonwoven Fabric for Electronic and Cell Culture Applications
Asahi Kasei Corp. (TYO:3407) plans to develop business in cellulose nanofiber (CNF) nonwoven fabric. The company will first commercialize a product for such applications as cell culture base materials, electronic materials and heat exchange membranes within two to three years. It will also build a system for mass production and explore applications for automotive component...
Digest: Chemical Price Hike Announcements for Week of Feb. 27
A series of price hikes were announced by chemical companies during the week of Feb. 27 – March 3. Unless noted otherwise, all price increases listed here are per kilogram. In acetic acid and vinyl acetate, Showa Denko KK (TYO:4004) will raise prices for acetic acid by 12 yen and for vinyl acetate by 15...
Digest: Chemical Price Hike Announcements for Week of Feb. 20
A series of price hikes were announced by chemical companies during the week of Feb. 20 – Feb. 24. Unless noted otherwise, all price increases listed here are per kilogram. In epichlorohydrin, Osaka Soda Co. Ltd. (TYO:4046) raised prices by no less than 25 yen ($0.22) on March 1. In acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) resin,...
Asahi Kasei Looks to Use Cupro Fiber for Entry Into Legwear Business
Asahi Kasei Corp. (TYO:3407) is working on new uses for Bemberg, a cupro fiber. The company plans to enter the segment for tights and other legwear, as well as innerwear, by using Bemberg in previously impossible ways as a primary material for advanced knitting and processing techniques that make apparel stronger. Bemberg is mostly used...
Digest: Chemical Price Hike Announcements for Week of Feb. 13
A series of price hikes were announced by chemical companies during the week of Feb. 13 – Feb. 17. Unless noted otherwise, all price increases listed here are per kilogram. In chloroprene rubber, Showa Denko KK (TYO:4004) will raise prices by no less than 42 yen ($0.37) on March 1. In biaxially oriented polystyrene sheets,...
Four Major Chemical Companies Anticipate Record Profits for Fiscal 2016
Eight major chemical companies have announced their earnings for April through December 2016. Tosoh Corp. (TYO:4042) and Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (TYO:4183) recorded healthy profits as a result of robust earnings from petrochemical products and basic chemicals. Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd.’s (TYO:4063) profits were driven by Shintech Inc., the company’s U.S.-based polyvinyl chloride subsidiary. Seven companies...
Asahi Kasei Develops Series of Sensors for Next-Generation Vehicles
Asahi Kasei Corp. (TYO:3407) has developed a detection sensor for fogging in electric vehicle (EV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) glass and a biosensor that measures the driver’s pulse wave. The company will step up marketing efforts targeting automobile manufacturers and others in order to quickly commercialize them through collaborative validation tests. The fogging...
Digest: Chemical Price Hike Announcements for End of January – Part 2
A series of price hikes were announced by chemical companies during the week of Jan. 23–27. As with the first installment in this two-part special, unless noted otherwise, all price increases listed here are per kilogram and became effective on Feb. 1. In polyurethane materials, Mitsui Chemicals & SKC Polyurethanes Inc. raised prices of polypropylene...
Chemical Industry Leader Outlooks for 2017 – Part 4: Life Sciences
Japan Chemical Daily recently had the opportunity to hear from chemical company executives regarding their outlooks for 2017. Continuing on from discussions on the global economy, bulk chemicals and functional chemicals, we were able to get inside perspectives on the landscape for life sciences. Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. (TYO:4188) President Hitoshi Ochi said that he...
Chemical Industry Leader Outlooks for 2017 – Part 1: The Global Economy
Japan Chemical Daily recently had the opportunity to hear from chemical company executives regarding their outlooks for 2017. 2016 was a historical turning point, said Masakazu Tokura, president of Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. (TYO:4005). For him, the common thread between the various developments of this year was that they were rooted in disparity. They would...
