Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp. (Tokyo, Japan; www.asahi-kasei.co.jp) has finalized a decision to construct a plant for plastic compounds in Athens, Alabama, as the second plant of its U.S. subsidiary Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, Inc. (APNA). The production capacity of the new plant will be 30,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr). The main products will be Thermylene PP, Leona PA66, and other performance plastic compounds. The startup of the facility is planned for early 2016.
Having identified an expansion of compounding operations as a critical element in the strategic growth of its engineering plastics business, Asahi Kasei Chemicals has expanded its compounding facilities in Asia as well as in Michigan, where APNA is based. Construction of the second North American plant for compounds in Alabama will enable increased supply to meet customer needs in the Southern US, where demand growth is most notable.
Outside North America, Asahi Kasei Chemicals has operating bases for plastic compounds in Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore, and Belgium. The company will continue to develop high-quality and high-performance products in accordance with market needs, while studying ways to further expand its supply infrastructure.