NIPPON SHOKUBAI announces NA Industries, Inc., a US subsidiary, re-started superabsorbent polymer production at its old plant
NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD [Tokyo Stock Exchange – TOKSE: 4114.T] (“NIPPON SHOKUBAI”) is deeply saddened by the loss of life resulting from the explosion and fire at the Himeji Plant on September 29 and extends its sincere condolences to family members. In addition, NIPPON SHOKUBAI extends its sincere apologies to the individuals who were injured by this accident and to the enormous problems this incident caused for the neighborhood of the plant and to other people associated with this incident.
NIPPON SHOKUBAI announces that NA Industries, Inc., a subsidiary in the USA (“NAII”), re-started an operation of its old superabsorbent polymer (“SAP”) plant in order to supplement the production quantity. Details are as below;
1.Background
-NAII built a new SAP plant with an annual production capacity of 60,000 metric tons using the latest technology next to the acrylic acid plant of American Acryl, a 50-50 joint venture company owned by NAII and Arkema Inc., at Houston, Texas, and has started commercial operation since June 2012 in order to enhance its competitiveness of SAP.
-NAII has stopped the old SAP plant, with an annual production capacity of 60,000 metric tons, at Chattanooga, Tennessee since confirming the stable operation of the above mentioned new SAP plant.
-In order to supplement the supply quantity of SAP, NAII re-started the old plant.
2.Outline of the re-starting old SAP plant
Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee, the USA
Production capacity during the period: 40,000 metric tons per year
Scheduled period of the production: From Dec, 2012 to Dec, 2013
3.Outline of NAII
Location:
(HQ, Plant) Houston, Texas, the USA
(Plant) Chattanooga, Tennessee, the USA
President: Hidetaka Yatagai, Managing Executive Officer of NIPPON SHOKUBAI
Business: Production and sales of SAP, polymers for concrete admixture, acrylic polymers, acrylic emulsions and so on
Capital: 100 million US dollars – paid in capital, 100% owned by NIPPON SHOKUBAI
Contact
Investor & Public Relations Dept.,
NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
TEL: +81-3-3506-7477
E-mail: shokubai@n.shokubai.co.jp