01.01.04
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Sales: $115 Million
Description: Key Personnel
Toshimi Hachimori, general manager, functional fabricated products division
Plants
Yakkaichi and Iwakuni
Processes
Spunbonded, needlepunched, meltblown, thermal bonded
Brand Names
Tafnel, Syntex
Major markets
Coverstock, geotextiles, oil absorbing materials, air filters, wipes, agriculture materials, household materials.
Mitsui Chemicals’ total production capacity is 48,000 tons per year. This includes 25,000 of polypropylene-based spunbonded materials and 9000 tons of SMS, all made in Japan, and 14,000 tons of SMMS made in Thailand through the company’s MHM division. MHM, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui Chemicals, has been producing SMMS in Thailand since 2003 to meet increasing demands for diaper material, and expansion plans are reportedly already underway.
According to Nonwovens Industry Far East correspondent, Kin Ohmura, Mitsui examined several locations for the new capacity but ultimately decided to expand the existing MHM site because its infrastructure was already in place. While the capacity for the new site, 20,000 tons, has been announced, it is not yet clear what type of technology will dominate. Industry are predicting it will feature the same four-beam spunmelt technology found on the first line. The new line is set to come onstream in 2006 and will likely be followed with another new line, probably in Southeast Asia or China, in 2007.
Much of Mitsui Chemicals’ future expansion strategy will reportedly target southeast Asia and China where greater growth prospects are being seen. This will require honing products to meet the needs of customers in Thailand and other southeast Asia countries. These consumers are looking for more general-purpose products than the specialized nonwovens made by Mitsui in Japan.
Sales: $115 Million
Description: Key Personnel
Toshimi Hachimori, general manager, functional fabricated products division
Plants
Yakkaichi and Iwakuni
Processes
Spunbonded, needlepunched, meltblown, thermal bonded
Brand Names
Tafnel, Syntex
Major markets
Coverstock, geotextiles, oil absorbing materials, air filters, wipes, agriculture materials, household materials.
Mitsui Chemicals’ total production capacity is 48,000 tons per year. This includes 25,000 of polypropylene-based spunbonded materials and 9000 tons of SMS, all made in Japan, and 14,000 tons of SMMS made in Thailand through the company’s MHM division. MHM, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui Chemicals, has been producing SMMS in Thailand since 2003 to meet increasing demands for diaper material, and expansion plans are reportedly already underway.
According to Nonwovens Industry Far East correspondent, Kin Ohmura, Mitsui examined several locations for the new capacity but ultimately decided to expand the existing MHM site because its infrastructure was already in place. While the capacity for the new site, 20,000 tons, has been announced, it is not yet clear what type of technology will dominate. Industry are predicting it will feature the same four-beam spunmelt technology found on the first line. The new line is set to come onstream in 2006 and will likely be followed with another new line, probably in Southeast Asia or China, in 2007.
Much of Mitsui Chemicals’ future expansion strategy will reportedly target southeast Asia and China where greater growth prospects are being seen. This will require honing products to meet the needs of customers in Thailand and other southeast Asia countries. These consumers are looking for more general-purpose products than the specialized nonwovens made by Mitsui in Japan.