Kuraray to enter acrylic TPE business

ERJ staff report (DS)

Tokyo -- Kuraray is to establish facilities at its Niigata Plant to make 5000 tons annually of a new acrylic thermoplastic elastomer. This is a new business for Kuraray. It said it is aiming for sales of Yen 6000 million (Euro 48 million) in 2015 and Yen 10 000 million in sales in 2018.

The acrylic TPE uses Kuraray's proprietary technology. The company said it is transparent, soft and has adhesive properties. The company said these characteristics can be used in the optical and moulding material fields, which demonstrate good potential for market growth.

Kuraray said the new material is a block copolymer of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl acrylate (BA). The company has been working on a pilot plant for the material since 2004. The production plant is located in Niigata, Japan and is expected to be on stream by September 2011. The plant represents an investment of around Yen 5000 million (Euro 40 million) and will employ about 20.

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Press release from Kuraray