Sumitomo Chemical has established a joint venture (JV) with Jilin Xindongtai Engineering Plastics to manufacture and vend polypropylene (PP) compounds for automotive uses.
The new entity is named as Jilin Dongcheng Sumika Polymer Compounds and is based in Jilin province, China. The JV will build and operate a PP compound manufacturing facility in Changchun. The plant will have a production capacity of 20,000 t per year.
PP compounds are produced by molding PP with inorganic fillers and synthetic rubber, which help to enhance properties such as rigidity and impact resistance. These properties enable use of the PP compounds in automobile interiors and bumpers. As there is an increase in automobile production and lighter vehicles need greater amounts of PP compounds, demand for PP high-performance material is rising every year. Hence to meet this demand, Sumitomo Chemical is expanding its global PP business by developing operations in Saudi Arabia, Thailand, North America, Europe and China.
Jilin Xindongtai Engineering Plastics manufactures and supplies PP and other plastic compounds mainly to the First Automobile Works Group in China. The partnership will integrate Sumitomo Chemical’s expertise in the PP field with Xindongtai’s experience in delivering to local automotive manufacturers.
Sumitomo Chemical has formed a business named Zhuhai Sumika Polymer Compounds in 2005 to address the demand for PP materials, particularly in South China. The company has also planned to establish a new entity in the Liaoning Province to serve North China.