President Taketsugu Fujiwara, Asahi Kasei Corp., presents Chairman Leo Yip, Singapore Economic Development Board, with a token of appreciation after the groundbreaking.
JURONG ISLAND, SINGAPORE: Asahi Kasei Chemicals held a groundbreaking ceremony on June 22, 2011, in Jurong Island, Singapore, for the first phase of construction of a new plant to produce solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber (SSBR).
For the phase 1, the plant will have a capacity of 50,000 tonne/year and an additional 50,000 tonne/year for phase 2. The plant is scheduled to start up its phase 1 production in May 2013 while phase 2, early 2015.
SSBR is a synthetic rubber which enables the production of tires that provide greater fuel efficiency while maintaining safety performance. With tightening environmental regulations and awareness, demand for high-performance tires which provide improved fuel efficiency is growing throughout the world. With increasing demand and overall market growth for tire rubber in Asia, the new plant will help meet the requirement.
Asahi Kasei Chemicals is expanding SSBR operations as strategic world-leading business, with the new plant in Singapore representing a major step in diversifying its operation base for enhanced stability of supply to meet growing demand and customer needs, said the company.
(C) WOC News