Kyoto University has successfully generated 1 kilowatt of electricity with fuel cells using ammonia directly as a fuel. By supplying ammonia directly to the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack, Kyoto University has achieved a similar level of power output as more generalized SOFCs. The suitability of ammonia as an SOFC fuel serves to demonstrate...
Nippon Shokubai
Nippon Shokubai Buys Sirrus, Gaining Technology for Better Adhesives
Nippon Shokubai Co. Ltd. (TYO:4114) is finalizing its acquisition of Sirrus Inc., a U.S. chemical venture based in Ohio, for an undisclosed amount. In acquiring a 100-percent share in Sirrus, Nippon Shokubai plans to turn the company into a subsidiary. This marks Nippon Shokubai’s first overseas acquisition. Sirrus owns technology for mass-producing reactive monomers and...
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)...
Incoming Nippon Shokubai President Discusses Changing of the Guard
Nippon Shokubai Co. Ltd. (TYO:4114) on Feb. 21 held a press conference at the company’s headquarters in Osaka regarding its upcoming change of presidents. Yujiro Goto, a board member and managing executive officer, will assume the post of president on April 1, at which time current president Masanori Ikeda will assume the post of chairman...
Nippon Shokubai Works to Develop Highly Heat-Resistant Acrylic Resin With Automotive Lens Potential
Nippon Shokubai Co. Ltd. (TYO:4114) is focusing on developing a highly heat-resistant acrylic resin with a glass transition temperature of 160 degrees Celsius. This acrylic resin also maintains its surface hardness and is weather resistant – characteristics of acrylic resins – as well as possessing optical characteristics of low birefringence and a low photoelasticity coefficient....
Yujiro Goto Named as Next President of Nippon Shokubai
Nippon Shokubai Co. Ltd. (TYO:4114) announced on Feb. 8 that Yujiro Goto, a member of the board and managing executive officer, will be promoted to president. Current president Masanori Ikeda will assume the post of chairman and representative. The transition is scheduled to take place on April 1. The company is currently implementing a long-term...
Nippon Shokubai to Hike Price for Acrylic Acid, Acrylic Ester and Ethylene Oxide
Nippon Shokubai Co. Ltd. (TYO:4114) will raise the price for acrylic acid (AA), acrylic ester (AE), ethylene oxide (EO) and its derivatives, starting with January 2017 shipments. Prices across the board will increase by at least 20 yen ($0.17) per kilogram. The price of Japanese-produced naphtha is expected to surge above 40,000 yen per kilogram...
Mitsui Chemicals to Outsource Ethanolamine Production to Nippon Shokubai
Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (TYO:4183) has concluded a contract to outsource its production of ethanolamine to Nippon Shokubai Co. Ltd. (TYO:4114). Mitsui Chemicals’s plant at Osaka Works, Takaishi, Osaka Prefecture, had an annual production capacity of 30,000 tons but was shut down in April this year. Ethanolamine is used as an ingredient in laundry detergents, shampoos,...
METI Launches IoT Demonstration Project to Improve Chemical Plant Safety
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has initiated a demonstration project to use Internet of Things (IoT) technology for chemical plant safety. Data from pipework tests will be collected and analyzed to help predict external corrosion. There are 13 companies involved in the project, including Asahi Kasei Corp. (TYO:3407). Ten-thousand pieces of data...
Chemical Industry Leaders from Japan and China Hold Summit in Shanghai
On Sept. 13, the Japan Chemical Industry Association (JCIA), Japan Petrochemical Industry Association (JPCA) and China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF) held a conference regarding Japan and China’s chemical industries at the Jing An Shangri-La Hotel in Shanghai, China. The conference was conducted by a subcommittee from the China Petroleum and Chemical International Conference,...
KH Neochem to List on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Oct. 12
KH Neochem Co. Ltd. announced on Sept. 7 that it will list on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Oct. 12. KH Neochem has 34,050,000 shares on issue, and shareholder Japan Industrial Partners Inc. will sell 23,800,000 shares. The plan is to designate some shares to investors such as Nippon Shokubai Co. Ltd. (TYO:4114), NOF Corp....
