Artist’s conception of the completed Europe PPS technical centre in Germany, from the air. (square-roofed building in the centre).
TOKYO, JAPAN: DIC Corporation said it will establish a new polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) product technical centre in Europe with an estimated investment of approximately €2.7 million, to be located within the site of group company Sun Chemical’s Eurolab, in Karlstein, Germany. It is scheduled to open in November, although analysis-related operations, which will use existing resources, are expected to begin in September, it said.
Europe has a substantial market for PPS compounds, approximately 60 percent the size of the Japanese market, and is home to a number of major automobile and auto parts manufacturers. The rapidly increasing use of PPS compounds in the region continues to drive growth. European manufacturers are also establishing operations in promising offshore markets, including in Asia, but the materials they use at overseas facilities must be qualified in Europe. Due to this, DIC recognized the need to set up a regional technical support configuration to gain European manufacturers confidence.
Building the Europe PPS technical centre on the site of Sun Chemical’s Eurolab also offers key advantages, including use of the latter’s advanced laboratory facilities and its highly skilled analysis equipment operators, which will facilitate the swift provision of highly precise technical information.
By establishing production and technical facilities in major high-demand areas, DIC has bolstered its ability respond in a timely manner to the increasingly diverse and complex requirements of its customers, positioning it to solidify its market dominance as no1 PPS supplier worldwide. The company will continue to establish new and enhance existing R&D facilities in its various businesses, thus reinforcing its ability to customize products to local needs, it said.
PPS compounds are valued for their excellent heat, chemical and water resistance. With demand for use in automobiles, electrical and electronics equipment and household appliances rising, the global market for PPS compounds continues to grow by 6 to 7 percent annually, the company said.
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