SDK Kick-starts New Ethyl Acetate Plant for Adhesives at Oita Complex

Showa Denko (SDK) (TOKYO: 4004) started commercial operation of its new ethyl acetate plant at Oita Complex using its proprietary production process technology. A ceremony was held at the complex to celebrate the completion of the new plant.

Ethyl acetate is an organic solvent used in wide-ranging applications, including printing ink, paint, and adhesives for electronic devices. Its business environment continues to be severe due to the rise in raw material/fuel costs and the increase in imports. SDK therefore decided last year to change the production process by adopting a highly efficient proprietary technology, and started constructing a new plant.

The conventional process was a two-stage process in which acetaldehyde, synthesized from ethylene, is converted into ethyl acetate. In the new process technology adopted this time, however, acetic acid is directly added to ethylene, enabling efficient production of high-quality ethyl acetate. While the technology is already being used at our production site in Indonesia, this is the first time that the technology is commercially used in Japan.

SDK aims to cope with changes in the market environment and better meet diversified customer requirements, strengthening its status as a stable supplier of high-quality products.

About Showa Denko K.K.

Ranking as one of Japans leading chemical companies, Showa Denko K.K. operates in the six major segments of petrochemicals, chemicals, electronics, inorganics, aluminum, and others. The company has established leading positions in various fields, including HD media and graphite electrodes. As of December 31, 2010, Showa Denko K.K.s consolidated subsidiaries and non-consolidated subsidiaries/affiliates to which the equity method is applied, amounted to 36 in Japan and 21 in foreign countries. And the number of employees on a consolidated basis reached 11,597.

Source: Showa Denko K.K.