Mitsui Chemicals establishes company in China for the production of TPEs

Milastomer is a thermoplastic olefinic elastomer used in glass run channels for automobile windows and in sheathing applications, and Admer is a polyolefin used as an adhesive for automobile fuel tanks and food packaging.

Mitsui said in a statement that in China, demand for Milastomer has grown in line with increased use of cross-linked thermoplastic elastomers in glass run channels of automobiles and demand for more luxurious automobile interior materials. Similarly, the market for Admer has grown along with wider applications of resins in automobile fuel tanks and spreading awareness of food safety resulting in the increased use of barrier food packaging materials. To respond to this growing market demand, the company established a new supply base in Shanghai. The production capacity will be 11,000 t/y. It will be established in November 2012, commercial operation is planned to start in October 2014.

The new company is expected to serve as the group’s compound base and future base for automotive polypropylenes in the area.