Toray Advanced Film Co (www.toray-taf.co.jp/en) planned to restart some operations at its site in Kagamiishi-machi, Fukushima prefecture / Japan by the end of March, parent group Toray Industries (Tokyo / Japan; www.toray.com) said in an update on the impact of the Japanese earthquake on its activities. ABS resins production at Toray Industries’ plant in Ichihara-shi, Chiba prefecture was restarted on 15 March and reached close to regular operations on 24 March. The company said it resumed production of PP film at its plant in Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki prefecture in a phased manner on 23 March.

Toray Tonen Specialty Separator Godo Kaisha, a battery separator film joint venture between Toray Industries and TonenGeneral Sekiyu, also expected to start production at its site in Nasushiobara-shi, Tochigi prefecture in a phased manner after 28 March, once power supply problems had been resolved. Toray Industries noted that, while the procurement of certain raw materials and parts has been impacted, it has secured enough volumes of its main raw materials for the time being by switching suppliers and by exploiting the group’s global operations.

Numerous chemicals and plastics plants have been affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on 11 March (see Plasteurope.com of 29.03.2011 and 18.03.2011).

Teijin DuPont Films (Tokyo / Japan; www.teijindupontfilms.jp/english), for example, reported that its operations in Utsunomiya remain suspended as a result of damage caused by the earthquake – see Plasteurope.com of 01.04.2011. Production outages have caused disruption to global supply chains in sectors such as automotive, where car makers are desperately trying to fill the holes in their supply networks – see Plasteurope.com of 04.04.2011.