Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (MCI; Tokyo; www.mitsuichem.com) announced a one-line production augmentation totaling 5,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr) for olefinic elastomer Milastomer at its wholly-owned domestic subsidiary, Sun Alloys Co., Ltd. to respond to upswings in demand for thermoplastic olefinic elastomers.
Milastomer is a lightweight, soft resin with low density and excellent moldability. Demand has grown significantly for uses in automotive materials, gaskets and civil engineering joint fillers, building materials, and grips, and is expected to continue to expand around the world in line with wider uses in automotive interiors and as weather strips. The planned production facilities augmentation for Milastomer is a proactive response to such demands. Construction for the production increase will commence in February 2017, with a planned completion date of June 2017. MCI expects commercial operations to begin in October 2017.