Following the completion of expansion, the plant will have an output of 62,000 tons per year.
Worldwide demand for high performance tires is expected to remain robust, and with a strong base in S-SBR technology suited for use in these tires, Asahi Kasei believes it is in a leading position to expand supply to this growing market. The expanded plant capacity at Japan Elastomer will be dedicated to the production of a new line of modified S-SBR, which went on sale in April 2007. Made possible by what Asahi Kasei calls a major advance in polymer modification, this S-SBR reportedly raises the level of fuel efficiency achievable through the use of high performance tires. The additional production capacity will ensure stable supply as sales continue to rise sharply.