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Kaneka (Japan) boosts polymer production in Flanders again

As governments and industries enhance their sustainability goals, there’s a trend toward developing non-heating and energy-saving processes. This makes demand surge in a particular market: elastic adhesives and sealants, which are used in a variety of insulation and retrofitting applications. To keep up with the growing demand in Europe, the Japanese Kaneka Corporation has announced a new investment at its Flanders-based plant located in Westerlo.

Kaneka

State-of-the-art production line

Specifically, the 2018 winner of Flanders’ Foreign Investment of the Year Trophy will be increasing its production capacity for silane terminated polymers in Westerlo. Going by the product name of Kaneka MS Polymer™, this type of polymer is the active base resin for high-quality sealants, adhesives and coatings. An investment of around JPY 5 billion (approximately EUR 36.8 million) will see the construction of a fourth state-of-the-art production line at the Flanders-based plant by June 2024.

Innovative and sustainable focus

Kaneka MS Polymers are used in a variety of markets, from building and construction to industry, transportation, flooring, waterproofing and DIY. What’s more, the ecologically sound character of the product is highly valued in international markets, as Kaneka MS Polymers do not contain isocyanates or solvents. This means that they fully comply with the regulatory VOC emission standards.

Kaneka has a long history in pioneering and innovating performance polymer technologies. This investment further demonstrates our strong commitment to our customers and sustainable goals.

Olivier Renson
General Manager of Performance Polymers Solutions Vehicle EMEA

“The demand for ecofriendly adhesives and sealants is growing rapidly in Europe,” says Olivier Renson from Kaneka Belgium. “With our MS polymer base resins, we focus on innovation and sustainability. Environmental benefits and new market opportunities inspire us in the transition to a cleaner and climate-resilient economy.”

Expansion upon expansion

Building on its previous capacity increase in 2018, for which Kaneka took home the Foreign Investment of the Year Trophy, the new expansion project in Flanders will boost Kaneka's MS Polymer production capacity in Europe by another 10,000 tons annually, totaling up to 43,000 tons per year.

Check out the video below to discover Kaneka’s previous expansion in Flanders. 

More info

Kaneka Belgium
Reported by
press release Kaneka
31 August 2022

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