By Plasteurope.com staff

Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical (Tokyo; www.sumitomo-chem.co.jp) is to introduce its new business sector structure as of 1 October 2024. The company said they plan to streamline their current five sectors into four with the aim of aligning its business areas with the societal issues of food, ICT, healthcare, and the environment.

The updated structure is to be organised as the sectors Agro & Life Solutions, ICT & Mobility Solutions, Advanced Medical Solutions, and Essential & Green Materials.

Related: Sumitomo plans to increase production of high-performance liquid crystal polymer

High-performance thermoplastics such as LCP, polyether sulfones (PES), PEEK, polyester, and epoxy resins will run under the ICT flag, with Sumikasuper as the main brand, the company said.

Standard thermoplastics, additives and elastomer chemicals from the former Energy & Functional Materials sector and their precursors will be combined in the newly formed Essential & Green Materials division. This is a merger of the former Essential Chemicals & Plastics and Petrochemicals & Plastics divisions.

The portfolio includes aromatics and cracker products as precursors, along with thermoplastics such as polyolefins, TPE, and acrylic polymers as well as sheets made from them.

Sumitomo is well-established in the polyolefins market, particularly with its globally recognised polypropylene compounds for automotive materials reinforced with short and long glass fibres, sold under the Thermofil brand. In contrast, the company has access to polyethylene materials primarily through Petro Rabigh, whose ownership is shared with Saudi Aramco.

The future home of engineering thermoplastics such as ABS, polycarbonate and PMMA, for which Sumitomo operates smaller capacities, is not entirely clear.