Mitsubishi starts up TPE plant in Thailand

Tokyo – Mitsubishi Chemical Corp has started production of styrenic thermoplastic elastomers (TPS) in Thailand, the Japanese chemicals supplier announced 19 Jan.

Thai subsidiary, Mitsubishi Chemical Performance Polymers (Thailand) Co. Ltd, started operation in January 2018 to serve the growing automotive market in Asia, Mitsubishi said.

The company’s statement did not provide details about the production capacity of the plant.

The Japanese supplier has a portfolio of olefinic, styrenic, and polyester elastomers. Its TPS materials are used in industries including automotive, electronic devices and building materials.

To meet the “robust market demand”, Mitsubishi decided to start TPS production in Thailand which it described as a “rapidly growing” market.

“However, TPS demand in southeast Asia has increased in recent years, mainly in the automotive and food packaging fields,” Mitsubishi noted.

Mitsubishi is currently producing three TPS brands in Thailand, including Thermorun, which is used in automotive airbags.