Tokyo-based Polyplastics Co. Ltd. is expanding its production capacity for Vectra liquid-crystal polymer at its plant in Fuji, Japan. At Chinaplas 2010, the company also expressed optimism about its market growth in China.
The addition of 1.1 million pounds of LCP annual capacity will help serve recovering demand for LCP resins in Asia, especially in China. After the expansion comes on stream in early 2012, Polyplastics' annual LCP capability will reach 3.31 million pounds of polymer, and 4.85 million pounds of compounded resin.
LCP resin is used in industrial sectors, in particular electronic components for the information technology industry, said Wei Chen, senior sales manager at Polyplastics (Shanghai) Ltd.
Polyplastics has witnessed the Chinese market rebound since the second half of 2009. “Domestic market has been growing rapidly, while the export sector recovers at a slower pace,” he said.
In the first quarter of this year, sales grew 60-70 percent compared with a year ago. Chen said the company is cautiously optimistic, acknowledging uncertainties in the Chinese and global market.
Polyplastics also makes polyacetal resin at its majority-owned plant in Nantong, China. The factory is back to running at full capacity and annual output is set to reach 13.2 million pounds this year, Chen added.
Polyplastics is a joint venture between Daicel Chemical Industries Ltd. of Osaka, Japan, and Florence, Ky.-based Ticona Engineering Polymers.
Copyright 2010 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved.