Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Tokyo) held a groundbreaking ceremony for a 2,000 -tonnes/year plant located at its Omuta Works (Omuta City, Kyushu) to manufacture its new advanced polyurethane elastomer, Fortimo, and the polyisocyanate, Stabio. The new plant is scheduled for commercial operation in August 2016.

As reported earlier, Fortimo is a non-yellowing material that exhibits shorter molding times than conventional thermoplastic polyurethane and thermosetting polyurethane elastomers. Target applications include automotive, medical tubes, and high durability industrial materials.

Stabio, meanwhile is a polyisocyanates of PDI (1,5-pentamethylene diisocyanate) that is 70% biomass-derived. Target applications include coatings for plastic substrates.

Groundbreaking ceremony for the plant in Omuta, Japan. http://www.plasticstoday.com/articles/construction-specialty-pu-elastomers-plant-starts-japan-medical-tubing-20150420a