Kuraray's Kashima Plant (Kamisu-machi, Kashima-gun, Ibaraki Prefecture) has completed the expansion of its liquid isoprene rubber (LIR) manufacturing facilities by 1,000 tons per year, and commenced operations in October 2004. Production capacity following the expansion will be 4,600 tons per year.
LIR is a liquid form of polyisoprene rubber with adhesive properties developed in 1977 by Kuraray through the application of the Company's proprietary polymer manufacturing technology. Nowadays used in the production of tires and other rubber products, it is also used in viscous adhesives and a wide spectrum of other applications.
The use of LIR in natural and synthetic rubber products makes it possible to reduce the material's viscosity without degrading its dynamic properties, thereby enhancing workability and productivity. For this reason, demand is active in Asia, and particularly in China, where tire manufacturing is on the increase. Furthermore, in the increasingly high-tech field of precision molding of rubber parts and components, demand for LIR as a performance-enhancing additive is expanding.
With the current worldwide move to eliminate organic solvents, growth in demand is forecast for LIR as a non-solvent adhesive, for binding rubber products to textile and metals by viscous adhesive and transformed adhesive. In addition, it is increasingly used as a raw material in the manufacture of UV-cured adhesives.
Kuraray will place increased emphasis on user needs in its product development system, and plans to strengthen and expand the role of LIR in its elastomer business.
Location | Kuraray's Kashima Plant Kamisu-machi, Kashima-gun, Ibaraki Prefecture | ||||||
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Plant manager | Takayoshi Osaki | ||||||
Production capacity |
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Commencement of operations | October 2004 | ||||||
Capital investment | Approximately ¥400 million |