Nippon Shokubai recently invested in the construction of a new plant for the production of superabsorbent polymers. The plant has a capacity of 100,000 tons per year. In addition, a new production site with the same capacity was also built for the manufacture of acrylic acid, the main raw material for the polymers.
Yujiro Goto, president of Nippon Shokubai, said: "Global demand for superabsorbent polymers is growing at a steady rate. It will also grow steadily in Europe, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. Now that we’re able to consistently produce acrylic acid and superabsorbent polymers here, we can meet the growing demand better. This vertical integration is one of our major advantages.”
Nippon Shokubai was founded in 1941 and is the world leader in the production of acrylic acid and superabsorbent polymers. The Japanese company has more than 4,000 employees worldwide. The Zwijndrecht site, the firm’s European headquarters since 1999, employs 188 people.
