Tosoh to Construct New Plants for High-Silica Zeolite and Zirconia
Management accelerates specialty growth with stronger infrastructure at Yokkaichi Complex
Tokyo, Japan – Tosoh Corporation announced construction of new facilities for the production of high-silica zeolites and zirconia powder at the Yokkaichi Complex (Mie, Japan). Construction for both plants will begin this month with operations launching immediately after completion in December of 2008. The JPY 8 billion investment will double zeolite production and increase zirconia powder by 50%.
Tosoh Group is a leading global supplier of advanced materials for consumer electronics and various industrial and high-tech products. High-silica zeolites and zirconia serve as a main pillar in the specialty product portfolio with manufacturing plants at Nanyo Complex (Yamaguchi, Japan). The construction of the new plants at Yokkaichi Complex will serve rapidly expanding demand, while at the same time reducing risk for high-market share products by increasing the number of manufacturing locations.
Tosoh’s synthetic zeolite products include both its HSZ (high-silica zeolite) series and Zeolum® (zeolite molecular sieves). Zeolum, which Tosoh launched in 1969, displays strong selective adsorption properties that make it suitable for drying, purifying, and separating a wider variety of feeds than any other adsorbent. HSZ Series (high-silica zeolites) have a wide range of catalyst and adsorbent applications and are utilized extensively in the petrochemical industry. Tosoh is also developing zeolites that will help clean the environment by efficiently absorbing hydrocarbons in automobile exhaust and other substances. Additionally, Zeolites offer the potential to contribute to environmental preservation through a broad range of other processes, including absorption of voc gases and exhaust emissions from the semiconductor manufacturing process. With this investment, Tosoh continues to strengthen market position as a synthetic zeolite manufacturer.
Tosoh was the first company in the world to construct a commercial plant for zirconia in 1988, and to this day remains the leading global supplier. This yttria-stabilized ceramic eliminates the brittleness associated with conventional ceramics and combines their most attractive properties with metal-like qualities. Nicknamed “ceramic steel,” zirconia has earned a place as a standard material for fiber-optic connectors. It is finding new applications as a material for use in fuel cell components, automobile oxygen sensors, dental applications and various other products. By working closely with customers to develop new applications for zirconia, Tosoh has been able to expand its product lineup to include powdered grades, compounds, and machined components.
The construction of these plants will strengthen specialty operations by developing infrastructure at Yokkaichi which will result in greater stability for customers. Tosoh remains committed to an overall strategy to develop added-value products that meet all customer expectations for new solutions, while maintaining superior technical support for existing product lines. Tosoh Corporation brings innovation to modern life with materials for the products of today and tomorrow.
Tosoh Corporation
WHO WE ARE
Tosoh Corporation is a Japanese Chemical Company established in 1935 and listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It is the core of the Tosoh Group which now comprises 141 companies worldwide, employs a multi-ethnic workforce of over 10,000 people, and generates sales of ¥781 billion (US$6.8 billion) annually.
WHAT WE DO
Tosoh is one of the largest chlor-alkali manufacturers in Asia, supplying plastic resins and a wide variety of basic chemicals that support modern life. The Company’s petrochemical operations supply ethylene, polymers, and polyethylene, while the electronic materials business serves the global semiconductor and flat-panel display industries. Tosoh has also pioneered sophisticated bioscience systems that are used to provide rapid diagnosis of life-threatening diseases such as diabetes, certain cancers and prevent epidemics by identifying pathogenic microbes. Tosoh creates products and provides services that are used to purify water and monitor the environment as part of a commitment to a sustainable future.
Stock Exchange Ticker Symbol: 4042
For more information, please contact:
Michael Hoover
International Corporate Development
Tosoh Corporation
m_hoover@tosoh.co.jp
Tel: +81-3-5427-5118
Fax: +81-3-5427-5198
www.tosoh.com