The increase in production capacity will take place in two phases over two years. In the first phase, the two existing production lines at the Mizushima Plant is being modified and strengthened with improvements slated for completion in April of this year. In the second phase, to be completed by next April, one line of a new plant will be constructed.
The construction will proceed with the intent to maintain minimal environmental impact, in line with ZEON's commitment to Responsible Care Activities.
The overall project reflects the company's strategy of strengthening successful business lines and expanding the comprehensive utilization of C5 fraction, as well as increasing the ratio of fine chemicals in its business. The dramatic expansion of the synthetic aroma business led to its spin it off from the Chemicals Division to the Specialty Chemicals Division in July 1996, and this Specialty Chemicals Division that deals with synthetic aroma chemicals aims at early achievement of annual sales of 10 billion yen.
| 1. | Expansion of production capacity for synthetic aroma chemicals | ||||||
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| 2. | Sales of ZEON's synthetic aroma business | ||||||
| 1997 estimate: approx. 4 billion yen 2001 forecast: approx. 8 billion yen |
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| 3. | Additional background on ZEON's Specialty Chemicals Division | ||||||
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ZEON's Specialty Chemicals Division began research and development on synthetic aroma chemicals about twenty years ago to improve the company's comprehensive utilization of C5 fraction, and completed the construction of the synthetic aroma chemicals plant at the Mizushima Plant and the marketing of synthetic aroma chemicals in the early 1980s. Thereafter, the division added the production of intermediates used in pharmaceutical and agricultural materials and various other industrial chemicals, successfully establishing itself in the fine chemicals business. Following successful business expansion, the Specialty Chemicals Division was spun off as a independent operation from the Specialty Chemicals Department of the Chemicals Division in July 1996. At present, synthetic aroma chemicals are the core business of ZEON's Specialty Chemicals Division, with approximately 30 varieties produced and sold. Green Notes with its sense of freshness and Jasmine Notes are notably successful. Leaf Alcohol, an especially popular green aroma, is produced from 2-Butyn in C5 fraction and used for fragrance and flavor. ZEON is the world's largest producer of Leaf Alcohol, meeting more than half of global demand. The company also ranks second in the world market for methyl-dihydrojasonate, which enjoys strong demand as a fragrance in such products as perfumes, hair shampoos and hair conditioners, with its Jasmine Notes product line. ZEON maintains business ties with the top ten aroma compounders in the world and has established worldwide renown as a synthetic aroma manufacturer. Furthermore, the company produces and sells assorted intermediaries used in pharmaceutical and agricultural materials by combining its advanced organic synthetics technology cultivated through the development of synthetic aroma chemicals, various monomers obtained from C5 fraction, and other exclusive materials. In the field of industrial
chemicals, ZEON also produces and markets
unique products such as cyclopentane, cyclopentene,
and cyclopentanone by utilizing C5 fraction. |
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| 4. | ZEON's comprehensive utilization of C5 fraction | ||||||
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The company produces and markets isoprene, dicyclopentadiene, piperylene, amylene, 2-Butyn, and other monomers through its exclusively developed G.P.I. Process (the technology for abstracting isoprene, ZEON Process of Isoprene) using C5 fraction materials obtained from naphtha cracking. Moreover, the company also produces and markets the following items around the world with raw materials of various monomers: isoprene rubbers, thermoplastic elastomer SIS, C5 hydrocarbon resins, epoxy resin hardeners, super plasticizers for concrete, RIM molding products (such as combined septic tanks for sewage), cyclo-olefin polymer, synthetic aroma, and fluorinated C5, which is used as an alternative solvent for Flon and other induction products. This effective, comprehensive usage of C5 fraction
is unique, and ZEON is proud of its position as
the world leader in the integrated utilization
of C5 fraction. |
