Dow began operations at a new MDI distillation and prepolymer facility at Dow’s global manufacturing site in Freeport, Texas. The investment will optimize the company’s existing asset infrastructure and strengthen Dow’s position in high-growth applications in the automotive, construction, consumer, and industrial markets. The new MDI facility in Freeport will replace existing North American production capacity in Laporte, Texas, and...
Materials

Tosoh Logistics Takes Delivery of New Ethylene Carrier
Tosoh Group member Tosoh Logistics took delivery of a new ethylene carrier, the Kayo, on August 17. Ethylene is extremely flammable and combustible, and therefore, adequate safety measures must be taken. The new vessel will ensure continuing safe and stable transport in response to the aging of existing vessels. The Kayo is one of the few special vessels in Japan...

Mitsui Chemicals Doubles Production of Takelac PUD for Food Wrappers
Mitsui Chemicals will increase the production capacity of Takelac PUD polyurethane dispersion to meet the growing demand for mono-material food wrapping materials due to the increasing need for environmental friendliness. Specifically, Mitsui Chemicals MC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui Chemicals, will add PUD production facilities to its Shimizu Plant. This is expected to approximately double Japanese domestic production capacity....
Zeon to Start Full-Scale Development of Adhesive Slurry for Separator Coating
Zeon will begin full-scale development of a new grade of AFL adhesive slurry for separator coating in its battery materials business as part of its efforts to expand its lineup of environmentally friendly products. The company has been globally marketing anode binder, cathode binder, heat-resistant binder for separator coating, and AFL adhesive slurry for separator coating for lithium-ion batteries, and...
Denka Posts Declining Sales and Profits in First Quarter
In the first quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024 (April-June 2023), chemical and rubber manufacturer Denka’s sales fell 6.9% year-on-year to 87.82 billion yen ($603.63 million), operating income fell 43.0% to 2.79 billion yen, ordinary income fell 53.7% to 2.38 billion yen, and net income fell 47.1% to 2.29 billion yen. By segment, the Elastomers & Infrastructure...
Seal Maker Valqua Posts Sales Increase of 8.6% in First Quarter
Seal manufacturer Valqua’s first quarter (April-June 2023) results showed sales of 15.48 billion yen ($106.95 million), up 8.6% year-on-year; operating income of 2.0 billion yen, down 2.2%; ordinary income of 2.11 billion yen, down 4.1%; and net income of 1.38 billion yen, down 7.2%. By segment, the sealing products business posted sales of 9.81 billion yen, up 2.4%, and operating...