NIPPON GOHSEI
Barrier Resins company targets Europe with stake in UK distributor / EVOH market growing
Nippon Gohsei, one of the world´s leading producers of EVOH (ethylenevinyl alcohol) barrier resins, has taken a 25% stake in its UK distributor, British Traders and Shippers (GB-Dagenham RM10 8RN), as the basis for developing its business in Europe. “Our investment in British Traders will become the cornerstone of our European development,” said Nippon Gohsei chairman, Mr Katayama.
Established in 1945, British Traders and Shippers has handled Nippon Gohsei products, including polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), for over 40 years. It has a current turnover of GBP 6-7m. The closer relationship between the two companies has been cemented by the appointment of Dr Ryan Suzuki as technical director with British Traders.
The market for EVOH copolymers is growing rapidly, principally by barrier resin applications in the packaging market, but also by its accelerating use for automotive multi-layer fuel tanks. The two key suppliers are both Japaneses companies: Nippon Gohsei and Kuraray.
Market leader Kuraray has a 7,000t/y plant for its Eval resin in Japan and a 13,000t/y facility, owned by a subsidiary company, in the US. Currently, it has a 9,000t/y production unit under construction in Antwerp, due on stream later this year.
Nippon Gohsei´s Soarnol EVOH is produced on a 7,000t/y plant in Japan and a unit in Laporte, Texas, bought from DuPont in 1996 after the US company ceased production in 1993. This facility, which is understood to use different polymerisation technology, is currently having its capacity increased to 20,000t/y. Gohsei also has aspirations to build a plant in Europe. The key feedstocks are vinyl acetate monomer and ethylene, both of which are available, for example, in Antwerp and in the UK at Hull.
Extrusion grades of EVOH are difficult to produce, a fact reflected in their price of EUR 6.0-6.5/kg. Barrier films and incorporation into coextrudates for blow moulding are proven – and high growth – food packaging applications, based on EVOH´s oxygen resistance imparting a long shelf life to commodity plastics such as PE and PP. Use for automotive fuel tanks is also expected to grow rapidly, with 65% of tanks in the US forecast to move to multi-layer in the next few years and a series of production units due to come on stream in Europe.
One alternative to EVOH could be modified PVOH. British Traders and Shippers says it has a stake in a UK production plant for such a material, tradenamed PVAX, which is processable by conventional plastics equipment and will be competitive with EVOH on price.
Established in 1945, British Traders and Shippers has handled Nippon Gohsei products, including polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), for over 40 years. It has a current turnover of GBP 6-7m. The closer relationship between the two companies has been cemented by the appointment of Dr Ryan Suzuki as technical director with British Traders.
The market for EVOH copolymers is growing rapidly, principally by barrier resin applications in the packaging market, but also by its accelerating use for automotive multi-layer fuel tanks. The two key suppliers are both Japaneses companies: Nippon Gohsei and Kuraray.
Market leader Kuraray has a 7,000t/y plant for its Eval resin in Japan and a 13,000t/y facility, owned by a subsidiary company, in the US. Currently, it has a 9,000t/y production unit under construction in Antwerp, due on stream later this year.
Nippon Gohsei´s Soarnol EVOH is produced on a 7,000t/y plant in Japan and a unit in Laporte, Texas, bought from DuPont in 1996 after the US company ceased production in 1993. This facility, which is understood to use different polymerisation technology, is currently having its capacity increased to 20,000t/y. Gohsei also has aspirations to build a plant in Europe. The key feedstocks are vinyl acetate monomer and ethylene, both of which are available, for example, in Antwerp and in the UK at Hull.
Extrusion grades of EVOH are difficult to produce, a fact reflected in their price of EUR 6.0-6.5/kg. Barrier films and incorporation into coextrudates for blow moulding are proven – and high growth – food packaging applications, based on EVOH´s oxygen resistance imparting a long shelf life to commodity plastics such as PE and PP. Use for automotive fuel tanks is also expected to grow rapidly, with 65% of tanks in the US forecast to move to multi-layer in the next few years and a series of production units due to come on stream in Europe.
One alternative to EVOH could be modified PVOH. British Traders and Shippers says it has a stake in a UK production plant for such a material, tradenamed PVAX, which is processable by conventional plastics equipment and will be competitive with EVOH on price.
31.08.1999 Plasteurope.com [17849]
Published on 31.08.1999