01.01.03
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Sales: $96 Million
Description: Key Personnel
Toshimi Hachimori, director
Plants
Yokkaichi, Iwakuni, Bangkok
Processes
Spunbonded, needlepunched, meltblown, thermal bonded
Brand Names
Tafnel, Syntex
Major Markets
Coverstock, geotextiles, oil absorbing materials, air filters, wipes, agriculture materials, household materials
The big news from Mitsui Chemicals, Osaka, Japan, is the opening of a new facility in Bangkok, Thailand. Created through Mitsui’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Mitsui Hygiene Materials (MHM), this facility can make 14,000 tons of polypropylene-based spunbonded nonwovens per year. It was completed in September 2002 and began operating in February 2003. Representing a $13 million investment for Mitsui, MHM sells 40% of its spunbond output to diaper producers Uni-Charm, Tokyo, Japan and Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, OH, which use it for coverstock in hygiene applications. The remaining output is sold to consumers in the Philippines, China and Japan. It is estimated that the plant will be operating at full capacity by the end of this year, buoyed by increased diaper consumption in southeast Asia and China.
Meanwhile in Japan, Mitsui Chemicals can produce more than 30,000 tons of nonwovens per year at its plants in Yokkaichi and Iwakuni. Included in this capacity is 25,000 tons of polypropylene spunbonded nonwovens and 9000 tons of SMS. Mitsui intends to shift the production of more commodity-type products to Thailand in an effort to cut costs. This decision comes amidst severe pricing pressures in the Japanese nonwovens industry, particularly for hygiene items. Meanwhile, Mitsui has been striving to differentiate its domestic products in an effort to add value to its nonwovens and strengthen its competitive power.
Sales: $96 Million
Description: Key Personnel
Toshimi Hachimori, director
Plants
Yokkaichi, Iwakuni, Bangkok
Processes
Spunbonded, needlepunched, meltblown, thermal bonded
Brand Names
Tafnel, Syntex
Major Markets
Coverstock, geotextiles, oil absorbing materials, air filters, wipes, agriculture materials, household materials
The big news from Mitsui Chemicals, Osaka, Japan, is the opening of a new facility in Bangkok, Thailand. Created through Mitsui’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Mitsui Hygiene Materials (MHM), this facility can make 14,000 tons of polypropylene-based spunbonded nonwovens per year. It was completed in September 2002 and began operating in February 2003. Representing a $13 million investment for Mitsui, MHM sells 40% of its spunbond output to diaper producers Uni-Charm, Tokyo, Japan and Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, OH, which use it for coverstock in hygiene applications. The remaining output is sold to consumers in the Philippines, China and Japan. It is estimated that the plant will be operating at full capacity by the end of this year, buoyed by increased diaper consumption in southeast Asia and China.
Meanwhile in Japan, Mitsui Chemicals can produce more than 30,000 tons of nonwovens per year at its plants in Yokkaichi and Iwakuni. Included in this capacity is 25,000 tons of polypropylene spunbonded nonwovens and 9000 tons of SMS. Mitsui intends to shift the production of more commodity-type products to Thailand in an effort to cut costs. This decision comes amidst severe pricing pressures in the Japanese nonwovens industry, particularly for hygiene items. Meanwhile, Mitsui has been striving to differentiate its domestic products in an effort to add value to its nonwovens and strengthen its competitive power.