DATE : 2015-01-13
Japanese chemical manufacturer Nippon Shokubai has announced it stopped manufacturing activities at its Suita Plant, located in the city of Suita, at the end of 2014. Opened in 1943, the Suita Plant produced phthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride, unsaturated polyester resin, acrylic resin for paint and adhesives and fine particle products. The company intends to build a new research and development facility at the site to strengthen its R&D operations .Production capacity at the Suita plant decreased as a result of the transfer of Nippon Shokubai's unsaturated polyester resin business to Japan Composite, a joint-venture between the company and Mitsui Chemicals. The company said the proliferation of residences surrounding the plant also created difficult conditions for continuing production.
Due to these circumstances, the company proceeded to transfer production from the Suita Plant to its other manufacturing facilities, finally ending production operations at the plant.
The company's new R&D facility, scheduled to be completed in 2016, is designed to quickly and efficiently take idea creation to the next stage of incubation. According to the company, the new R&D centre will actively promote open innovation, as well as accelerate the development of new products needed to drive its growth. In October 2014, the company announced plans to expand its production capacity of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) by building a new SAP plant at its existing plant in Himeji, Japan.The expansion aims to meet the huge demand for SAP, which is mainly used for disposable personal hygiene products, such as baby diapers, adult protective underwear and sanitary napkins.
SOURCE Emerging Markets Business Information News