Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (MCI; Tokyo; www.mitsuichem.com) has decided to set up a new production facility for long glass-fiber-reinforced polypropylene (LGFPP) at Chinese manufacturing subsidiary Mitsui Advanced Composites (Zhongshan) Co, Ltd. This will become Mitsui Chemicals’ third manufacturing base for LGFPP, joining existing bases in Japan and the U.S. By establishing this new facility, Mitsui Chemicals’ production capacity for LGFPP will increase to 10,500 metric tons per year. (m.t./yr). The new production facility, which will produce 3,500 m.t./yr of product, is set to commence operations in September 2020.
Developed by Prime Polymer Co., Ltd., Mitsui Chemicals’ LGFPP is a composite material made by melting and mixing polypropylene (PP) resin with long glass fibers. The lightweight material offers an attractive appearance, with long glass fibers providing a good balance between hardness and impact resistance. The material is already being adopted in areas such as the unpainted insides of rear car doors.