Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. (MGC) says it is expanding
polyacetal (POM) production at its joint-venture facility in
South Korea, increasing its production by 35,000 tpy.
The plant is a joint venture with US-based specialty
chemicals producer Celanese, who owns the other 50%.
In 1988, Mitsubishi began production of POM at its plant in
Ulsan, and annual production has now reached over 100,000
The additional 35,000 tpy of capacity made possible with MGC
technology will be combined with the
current capacity to bring total POM production capacity to
140,000 tpy, the company said.
The construction of the new facility
will start in the first quarter of 2012 and will be completed
in the fourth quarter of 2013. Commercial operation is
scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2014.
With its mechanical strength, fatigue characteristics, and
chemical resistance, POM is used in products such as mechanical
components for automobiles and electric/electronic
POM is expected to achieve an annual growth in demand of 5
to 6% in the future, causing a tight demand-supply balance for
years to come, MGC officials said.
The annual capacity of 140,000 tons will make the facility
of the world's largest single POM production sites, the company
MGC is also undergoing a POM expansion at its Thai Polyacetal Co.
subsidiary in Bangkok, with capacity rising from the current
55,000 tpy to 100,000 tpy by the 2013 second quarter.