The Chemicals segment of Asahi Glass (Europe: AGC Chemicals Europe, Thornton Cleveleys / UK; www.agcce.eu.com) is currently expanding capacity for the production of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE, brand name "Fluon") at its Japanese site in Kashima with start-up scheduled for Q1 2008. The company did not disclose the level of the additional capacity.

The project will cost around EUR 16m and is part of the "Jikko 2007" strategy program under which Asahi wants to nearly double ETFE capacity in the next few years. According to Asahi, it produces and markets more than half the volume of ETFE currently processed worldwide. It says demand is increasing at an average of 10% a year, driven by the automotive and aviation industries, where it is used predominantly for cable sheathing. Film made from the material is being used increasingly in the construction industry. The most recent applications are in the stadium and water sports centre for the Olympic Games in the Chinese capital of Beijing in 2008, for which a total of around 350,000 m² ETFE film is being used for the outer skin.

The ETFE plant in Thornton Cleveleys / UK is currently being started up – six months later than originally intended. The project, which cost some EUR 19m, will raise Asahi's overall capacity for ETFE by around 20%. The company also operates an ETFE plant in Chiba / Japan.