Toyobo : High-performance Fibers: Investing Actively and Developing Global Markets
January 26, 2016 at 11:07 pm EST
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Jan 27, 2016
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Toyobo Co., Ltd. announces its decision to invest in expansion of production capacity for its high-performance polyethylene fibers Dyneema™ and Tsunooga™ and, as part of its global business development, has also decided to market these fibers throughout the world.
Accompanying these decisions, Toyobo has given Dyneema™ a new brand name, IZANAS™ and has positioned it as a strategic global product.
1. Background Information
Toyobo began joint research on high-performance polyethylene fibers with DSM of the Netherlands (Royal DSM N.V.), in 1984. In 1991, a joint venture manufacturing company Nippon Dyneema Co., Ltd was established and it commenced production of high-performance polyethylene fibers. Since then,
Toyobo has been selling the fiber under the brand name Dyneema™ in Japan. Subsequently, the sales has grown steadily, and its applications have expanded widely to include fishing lines and cords, heavy duty ropes used for mooring ships, protective gloves, nets, special industrial materials and so on.
In recent years, as overseas manufacturers have gained strength, competition among manufacturers of high-performance fibers has become more intense. Toyobo aims to realize the global expansion of its business by developing new products and expanding production capacity.
As the brand name Dyneema™ has been used for Toyobo products and DSM products in the market, some customers have experienced confusion.
To address these issues, Toyobo has decided to give its products a Toyobo's original brand name to clarify the differences between its own products and products produced by other companies including DSM, and develop sales aggressively in the global markets where further growth is expected.
2. Investment Plans
Investment in IZANAS™ Production Facilities
At present, Toyobo is planning to refurbish and upgrade the production facilities at Nippon Dyneema's Tsuruga Plant (located in Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture) and begin production of new products with even higher strength and performance. New product launches are scheduled for April 2017.
Investment in Tsunooga™ Production Facilities
Tsunooga™, another Toyobo's high-performance polyethylene fiber is favorably used in protective gloves. Plans, therefore, together with IZANAS™, call for expanding production capacity for Tsunooga™ and new capacity is expected to come on stream in April 2017.
Total investment in IZANAS™ and Tsunooga™ production facilities will amount to ¥2.0 billion. Both fibers will be marketed also overseas under the Toyobo's original brandnames.
3. New Brand Name
■ Background on High-Performance Polyethylene Fiber Dyneema™
Dyneema™ was developed jointly by Toyobo and DSM. It has an extremely low specific gravity of 0.97g/cm and the highest level of tensile strength and modulus among commercialized organic high-performance fibers. Dyneema™ is about eight times stronger than piano wires, and ropes made from this fiber with a diameter of 10mm can support a weight of about 20 tons (theoretical value).
At present, Dyneema™ is used in the manufacturing of fishing lines and cords, heavy duty ropes used for mooring ships, protective gloves, nets, special industrial materials and so on.
Nippon Dyneema currently produces 3,200 tons of Dyneema™ annually and Toyobo sells this output mainly to customers in Japan.
For more information, contact:
Public Relations Group
pr_g@toyobo.jp
Toyobo Co. Ltd. issued this content on 27 January 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 27 January 2016 04:06:15 UTC
Original Document: http://www.toyobo-global.com/news/2016/release_1838.html
Toyobo Co Ltd is a Japan-based company mainly engaged in the film and functional resin business, industrial material business, and textile and commerce business. It has five business segments. Film and Functional Resin segment manufactures, processes and sells packaging films, industrial films, industrial adhesives, engineering plastics and optical functional materials. Industrial Materials segment manufactures, processes and sells automotive fiber materials, super fibers, non-woven fabrics. Textile and Trading segment manufactures and sells functional clothing, apparel products, clothing textiles, and clothing fibers. Healthcare segment manufactures, processes and sells bio products, pharmaceuticals, medical membranes, medical devices, aqua membranes, and functional filters. It is also engaged in the assembly and sale of seawater desalination modules. The Real Estate segment sells, rents and manages movables. It also designs and constructs buildings and machinery and sells equipment.
TOYOBO CO., LTD. 
