Asahi Kasei Chemicals (Tokyo / Japan; www.asahi-kasei.co.jp) in February officially opened its new sales and technical support office in Querétaro / Mexico. Asahi Kasei Plastics Mexico is headed by Ichiro Kitsuda and operates as a 100% subsidiary of Asahi Kasei Plastics North America (APNA, Fowlerville, Michigan / USA; www.asahikaseiplastics.com). The subsidiary was first established in June last year and started providing sales and technical support for plastic compounds in September 2015.

The local presence will help the Japanese group capture a part of the growing Mexican market for plastic compounds, driven in part by the rising number of international automotive OEMs who have set up shop in the country. Asahi Kasei said it will “continue to study the possibility of local manufacturing of plastic compounds in Mexico as well.” For now, Asahi Kasei Plastics Mexico will focus on selling and providing technical support for the group’s “Thermylene” PP, “Leona” PA 6.6 and other performance plastics compounds.

APNA operates a 105,000 t/y plastic compounds production plant at its headquarters in Fowlerville. In addition, the company is expected to start up a new 30,000 t/y facility in Athens, Alabama / USA before the end of this month.