News

Kuraray announces that the expanded section (annual production of 4,000 tons) of its existing methacrylic resin molding material production facility commenced operations. Kuraray had carried out construction work aimed at increasing production capacity by eliminating bottlenecks at the facility, with capacity after completion rising to 44,000 tons.

Because of its excellent transparency and weatherability, methacrylic resin is used in illuminated signboards, lighting fixtures, construction materials and the like. Thanks to its superior optical properties, demand for use in optical applications has grown continuously over the past few years, including use in light-guide panels for LCDs in PCs and televisions.

Kuraray provides a wide variety of methacrylate products, from methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer, the raw material of methacrylic resins to methacrylic resin molding materials, methacrylic resin sheets and synthetic marble.

Kuraray plans to increase sales with this expansion, particularly in optical applications that continue to stage ongoing active demand and other highly functional product applications including flexible acrylics where Kuraray's unique technologies can be best applied.

Kuraray will continue to pursue development of related higher value-added products, particularly opto-related products, which make optimum use of methacrylic resin's special properties, with the goal of expanding the business scale of the Company's MMA operations.

Outline of investment in facility

Production capacity 4,000 tons annually for expanded section
(Total molding material production capacity after completion: 44,000 tons annually)
Location Niigata Plant (Tainai City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan)
Capital investment Approx. ¥100 million