China is in hot pursuit of next-generation car development, with not only automakers rushing to develop the next generation of smart cars but the information and communications technology (ICT) sector as well. And now also trying to cut their way in on the action are European and U.S. auto parts manufacturers. Germany’s Continental AG entered...
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical to Build New US Plants, Double Ultrapure Hydrogen Peroxide Output
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. Inc. (TYO:4182) announced on July 13 that it will establish two new U.S. plants for the production of ultrapure hydrogen peroxide, a chemical used for cleaning and other procedures in the manufacturing of semiconductors. Establishment of the new plants is expected to cost no less than $60 million. The company, which...
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Accelerates Launch of New Aromatic Chemicals
Preparations are under way inside Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. Inc. (TYO:4182) to launch new aromatic chemical products. In April, the company formed new teams to facilitate problem-solving at its plants and divisions. The teams working on each side will fast-track testing and client relations with the goal of commercializing heat-resistant, transparent polyimides (PI) for flexible...
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical to Offer PWB Materials for 5G Network Devices
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. Inc. (TYO:4182) will begin offering, both to domestic and international circuit board manufacturers, high-function printed wiring board (PWB) materials that support the 5G standard, which is capable of transmitting large amounts of data instantly. The materials offer the electrical properties required by high-frequency semiconductor package substrates, as well as high-standard thermal...
In Good Shape: Japanese Semiconductor Packaging Makers Ride Strong Market Demand
The major suppliers of semiconductor packaging materials are anticipating strong sales again this year. Demand for these materials is growing, as the semiconductor market is expanding with the Internet of Things (IoT), eco cars and data centers. Sumitomo Bakelite Co. Ltd. (TYO:4203) is targeting a sales increase of 10 percent over the previous year in...
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Considers Consumption Area Methanol Facilities, Global Expansion
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. Inc. (TYO:4182) is looking at increasing its global bases with the establishment of small-to-medium facilities in the methanol business. The small-to-medium plants would be compatible with direct consumption areas and small-scale gas fields, while conventional large-scale plants in resource areas would supply the rest of the global market. Last year, Mitsubishi...
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...
Digest: Chemical Price Hike Announcements for Week of April 3
A series of price hikes were announced by chemical companies during the week of April 3 – April 7. Unless noted otherwise, all price increases listed here are per kilogram. In resins, Japan Composite Co. Ltd. will raise prices for unsaturated polyester resin by 30 yen ($0.27), vinyl ester resin by 50 yen and its...
Digest: Chemical Price Hike Announcements for Week of March 6 – Part 1
A series of price hikes were announced by chemical companies during the week of March 6 – March 10. As with the second installment in this two-part special, unless noted otherwise, all price increases listed here are per kilogram. In polyvinyl alcohol, Japan Vam & Poval Co. Ltd. will raise prices by 15 yen ($0.13)...
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical President Discusses Recent Domestic Efforts
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. Inc. (TYO:4182) will be opening the QOL (Quality of Life) Innovation Center Shirakawa, currently under construction in Shirakawa, Fukushima Prefecture. Sheet film and oxidizers will be produced at the hub, said President Toshikiyo Kurai in a recent interview, explaining that the company will strive to create modern products that help improve...
Sumitomo Chemical Takes Full Stake in Polycarbonate Joint Venture
Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. (TYO:4005) is making Sumika Styron Polycarbonate (SSPC) a wholly owned subsidiary. Headquartered in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, SSPC is a joint venture with U.S.-based Trinseo Holding BV. Sumitomo Chemical assumed ownership of Trinseo’s 50-percent stake in SSPC on Jan. 31. SSPC operates a polycarbonate plant in Niihama, Ehime Prefecture, with an annual...
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical to Build Second US Plant for Ultra-Pure Hydrogen Peroxide
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. Inc. (TYO:4182) has decided to set up a second production center in the U.S. for ultra-pure hydrogen peroxide, which is used to clean semiconductors during their manufacture. The new plant will be built in Portland, Oregon, with construction commencing sometime in 2017. The location is in close proximity to major users...
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical to Offer Plastic Medicine Containers with Oxygen-Absorbing Resin
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. Inc. (TYO:4182) is setting out to market plastic medicine containers made with an oxygen-absorbing resin. The company will supply these containers in the European and U.S. markets as a glass substitute for vials containing injectable drugs. Customers will initially use experimental containers before Mitsubishi Gas Chemical settles on a final commercially...
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Set to Hike Price of Methanol
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. Inc. (TYO:4182) will raise the price of methanol on deliveries from Jan. 20, 2017. The price will increase 15 yen per kilogram. It marks the first time the company has raised methanol prices since January 2014. With continually booming demand from Chinese methanol-to-olefins (MTO) plants since autumn 2016, Asia has seen...
CO2 Gas Prices Buoyed by Loss of Production Capacity
Japanese carbon dioxide (CO2) gas prices are poised to rise amid a depletion of crude gas, a by-product of successive closings of facilities at domestic ammonia plants and oil refineries. As CO2 suppliers respond by working to increase production capacity, they are hoping that their plans to pass new construction and distribution costs on to...
Mitsubishi to Expand Its Chemicals Business in the US
Mitsubishi Corp. (TYO:8058) will expand its chemicals business in the U.S., with more opportunities to import and export polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene and polyethylene resins due to an increase in the production of petrochemicals that use low cost raw materials derived from shale gas taking hold in fiscal 2017. Mitsubishi will also strengthen its logistics...
