01.01.10
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Sales: $164 million
Description: Key Personnel
Haruhiro Uesugi, general manager, spunbond fabrics division
Plants
Yokkaichi, Iwakuni, Japan
Processes
Spunbond, needlepunch, meltblown, thermal bonded
Brand Names
Tafnel, Syntec
Major Markets
Coverstock, geotextiles, oil absorbing materials, air filters, wipes, agriculture materials, household materials.
Annual production capacity for Tokyo’s Mitsui Chemicals is 65,000 tons. By production type, the company’s capacity is 26,000 tons of polypropylene spunbond nonwovens (made on four lines) and 9000 tons of SMS nonwovens on one line as well as 30,000 tons of SMMS nonwovens made in Thailand at a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Although Mitsui Chemicals is the largest maker of polypropylene spunbonded nonwovens in Japan, nonwovens sales fell in 2009 because of decreased demand and lower selling prices. Additionally, nonwovens made and sold in Thailand, where the company has operated since 2008, fetch significantly lower prices than those made in Japan.
To help boost sales, Mitsui has developed a number of value-added products. Most recently, a low fiber diameter meltblown nonwovens is being sold under the brand name Syntec nano, which competes significantly with electrospun nonwovens in the air and liquid filtration markets. Mitsui is currently making these nonwovens on two lines.
Within the polypropylene spunbonded nonwovens segment, Mistui has developed hollow fiber materials for oil absorption mats, which absorb spilled oil in natural bodies of water. Buoyancy performance of the fiber increases because the inside of the fiber is hollow, making oil absorption easier and more effective. In fact, oil absorption performance improves around 20% because of the fibers’ larger surface area.
Sales: $164 million
Description: Key Personnel
Haruhiro Uesugi, general manager, spunbond fabrics division
Plants
Yokkaichi, Iwakuni, Japan
Processes
Spunbond, needlepunch, meltblown, thermal bonded
Brand Names
Tafnel, Syntec
Major Markets
Coverstock, geotextiles, oil absorbing materials, air filters, wipes, agriculture materials, household materials.
Annual production capacity for Tokyo’s Mitsui Chemicals is 65,000 tons. By production type, the company’s capacity is 26,000 tons of polypropylene spunbond nonwovens (made on four lines) and 9000 tons of SMS nonwovens on one line as well as 30,000 tons of SMMS nonwovens made in Thailand at a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Although Mitsui Chemicals is the largest maker of polypropylene spunbonded nonwovens in Japan, nonwovens sales fell in 2009 because of decreased demand and lower selling prices. Additionally, nonwovens made and sold in Thailand, where the company has operated since 2008, fetch significantly lower prices than those made in Japan.
To help boost sales, Mitsui has developed a number of value-added products. Most recently, a low fiber diameter meltblown nonwovens is being sold under the brand name Syntec nano, which competes significantly with electrospun nonwovens in the air and liquid filtration markets. Mitsui is currently making these nonwovens on two lines.
Within the polypropylene spunbonded nonwovens segment, Mistui has developed hollow fiber materials for oil absorption mats, which absorb spilled oil in natural bodies of water. Buoyancy performance of the fiber increases because the inside of the fiber is hollow, making oil absorption easier and more effective. In fact, oil absorption performance improves around 20% because of the fibers’ larger surface area.