Singapore, 2 July 2013 – Denka Advantech Pte Ltd Synthetic Fiber, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Denka Chemicals Holdings Asia Pacific Pte Ltd today will be celebrating the opening of their first polyvinyl chloride (PVC) fiber plant outside of Japan. The state-of-the-art manufacturing plant at 6 Tuas South Drive in Singapore will produce Toyokalon, a proprietary product of the Denka Group used mainly for hair products like wigs, weaves and braids. The Chairman of the Singapore Economic Development Board, Mr Leo Yip will officiate the opening ceremony at the Mandarin Orchard Hotel this evening. The President & CEO of Denka Japan, Mr Shinsuke Yoshitaka, Senior Managing Executive Officer Denka Japan, Mr Hitoshi Watanabe and Managing Executive Officer Denka Japan, Mr Sanshiro Matsushita flew in from Japan to celebrate the special occasion (Please see attached photos of plant and products).
Construction of the new plant started in April 2012 and commenced commercial production in mid-June 2013. Built solely for the manufacture of Toyokalon, the Singapore plant is targeting a production capacity of 10,000 metric tons to meet increasing worldwide demand. Together with Denka’s Toyokalon production facility in Ofuna, Japan, Denka will produce a total of 20,000 metric tons for the global market once the production capacity of the plant in Tuas is fully maximized. Denka was the first company in the world in 1952 to industrialize the use of PVC fibers, and has since 1971 produced Toyokalon which is used primarily in the manufacturing of hair products.
Demand for Toyokalon has grown rapidly over the years especially in the African and US markets. The African market has seen demand expanding between five to ten percent yearly with countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Togo and Congo as some of Denka’s biggest customers for the production of hair products.
The President & CEO of Denka Japan, Mr Shinsuke Yoshitaka said: “Singapore was chosen as our first Toyokalon plant outside of Japan in view of its investor-friendly policies, assistance of the Singapore Economic Development Board and the Singapore government’s strong focus on the high value-add chemical and plastics manufacturing sector. Denka has always had an extremely close business relationship with Singapore since we established the first subsidiary here in 1980 as part of Singapore’s first petrochemical complex project. It was a natural choice for Denka to choose the Republic for the location of our new Toyokalon plant.”
He added; “With the opening of our fourth production plant and the first synthetic fiber production facility outside of Japan, our global production of Toyokalon, will now supply more than 50 per cent of worldwide demand for PVC fiber, making the Denka Group the largest PVC fiber manufacturer in the world.”
Mr Leo Yip, Chairman of The Singapore Economic Development Board said: “Barely a year ago, we inaugurated Denka’s Singapore IP (Styrene-N-Phenylmaleimide Copolymer) plant. One year on, I am delighted that Denka is once again opening another facility in Singapore. The Toyokalon plant at Tuas South is Denka’s fourth manufacturing facility in Singapore and reflects the strong and growing partnership between Denka and Singapore.”
Mr Masaharu Suzuki, Managing Director of Denka Advantech Pte Ltd said: With our four plants producing a wide range of chemical and petrochemical products and solutions such as Acetylene Black for dry cell batteries, Fused Silica Filler for semiconductor sealants, Polystyrene Resins for recording media cases and food packages, Transparent Polymers for flat display substrates and optical components, ‘Clearen’ Resins for electronic components & packaging materials, Denka IP for heat resistance modifiers and now Toyokalon for hair products, Singapore will now effectively function as Denka’s major production base of specialty chemicals.”
Since 1971, Toyokalon has had an excellent reputation for its high product quality for the production of wigs and related hair products. Many global customers have sung praises of Toyokalon in view of its strong similarity to human hair, soft texture, colour shade and curl holding.
To celebrate the official opening ceremony of Denka Advantech Pte Ltd Synthetic Fiber, a fashion show will be held in conjunction with the opening event at the Mandarin Orchard Hotel. Eight top-end fashion models including Miss Togo 2010 and Miss University Africa 2011 from Africa, two models from the USA and four Singapore models will wear Denka’s finished Toyokalon hair products when they sashay down the catwalk in front of Denka’s invited guests.
Denka Advantech Pte Ltd Synthetic Fiber will employ 40 staff at the new synthetic fiber plant in Tuas bringing Denka’s total work force in Singapore to 250 employees.
Denka (Denki Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha)
Denka was established in 1915 and is currently headquartered in Tokyo. It is a world-leading manufacturer of carbide chemicals and has grown into a major global manufacturer of petrochemicals, electronic materials, pharmaceutical products and other businesses. Denka has five production bases in Japan and apart from Singapore, has overseas production & sales offices in the USA, Germany, China, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong SAR. Denka reported an annual turnover of JPY 341 billion for fiscal year 2012.
In Singapore, Denka incorporated Denka Singapore Pte Ltd in 1980 and Denka Advantech Pte Ltd in 1989. To consolidate their manufacturing, sales & marketing operations and group management functions, of the South East Asian and South Asian regions, Denka incorporated Denka Chemicals Holdings Asia Pacific Pte Ltd in 2009.
Merbau Plant (Denka Singapore Pte Ltd)
In 1980, Denka Singapore Pte Ltd was the first company to be involved in Singapore’s first petrochemical complex project on the Merbau Island. The plant produced Acetylene Black, a highly purified and extremely conductive carbon black that is indispensable in dry cells and product applications requiring conductivity.
Seraya Plant (Denka Singapore Pte Ltd)
In 1997, Denka Singapore Pte Ltd set up a plant for the manufacture of polystyrene on Seraya Island specializing in high molecular typed polystyrene (PS), DENKA STYROL. The Seraya plant started the production of transparent polymers (MS resin) and CLEAREN (SBC resin) in 2006 and DENKA IP in 2012. The plant has become one of the largest production bases in the world for styrenic resin.
Tuas plant (Denka Advantech Pte Ltd)
In 1991, Denka Advantech Pte Ltd set up a manufacturing facility for fused silica filler used in semiconductor sealants. By enhancing its production system to adapt to more sophisticated semiconductor packaging and eco-friendly products, the Tuas plant together with Denka’s Omuta plant has become the world’s leading production base for spherical-shaped fused silica filler.
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