Mobility

Approximately seventy percent of light-weight modern automotive vehicles are made from resins.

Polypropylene compounds, Ethylene-Propylene Terpolymer (MITSUI EPT™), Adhesive polyolefin (ADMER™), Thermoplastic olefinic elastomer (MILASTOMER™) and other engineering plastics continue to make vehicles lighter and tougher.

Health care

Mitsui Chemicals’ eye-glass lenses focus on vision correction and eye protection through the use of ultra-violate (UV) blocking polymers.

Food and packaging

Mitsui Chemicals solutions eliminate food waste and greatly advance food safety and security. The company’s multi-layered packaging films employ a ‘gas barrier’ effect to make food last longer.

www.mitsuichem.com
mccn.mitsuichemicals.cn

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“Thailand is today taking on the economic challenges of tomorrow,” said Watchara Pattananijnirundorn, president and chief executive officer of UBE Chemicals (Asia) PCL.

“As a leading company, we are proud of our commitment to Thailand and of our ability to deliver some of the best chemical products and solutions to our domestic and international clients,” said Pattananijnirundorn.

As the only producer and distributor of caprolactam, and a major player in ammonium sulfate, engineering nylon plastics and synthetic rubber in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region, UBE Chemicals (Asia) PCL supports a range of customers across various industries.

The company understands what it takes to do business in Thailand. From recognizing and appreciating local business norms to contributing to local Thai communities, UBE Chemicals (Asia) PCL is growing its business in a sustainable and ethical manner.

While the country has a wealth of natural resources, Thailand is facing significant environmental challenges as it continues to develop its economy. Working in partnership with the Thai government, provincial partners and local communities, UBE Chemicals (Asia) PCL is committed to protecting the environment and is actively supporting projects in the country.

“We operate under the philosophy that the environment is one of our most valued stakeholders,” said Pattananijnirundorn. “As we improve the lives of the people who work alongside us, we will capitalize on the growth we are seeing in various industries and sectors in the dynamic Thailand economy and the region.”

Thailand and Japan continue to enjoy a thriving relationship and the two countries are working ever-more closely together.

“This strong relationship has certainly helped us to develop our business,” said Pattananijnirundorn. “Thai and Japanese people have similar work ethics and are culturally close in terms of shared values, social aspirations and the importance placed on family and loyalty. By strengthening our collaborations, we can grow our businesses together and achieve great things in the future.”

www.ube-ind.co.jp
www.ube.co.th

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“As a zero debt, privately owned export company we have ended all non-sustainable production practices and products and today focus on high-quality products with reduced environmental impact,” said Aggarwal.

Sajjan has always believed in giving back to society and hence undertakes large-scale corporate social responsibility activities spanning education, health and the environment.

These initiatives include funding a new intensive care unit in Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, Maharashtra; establishing Agrawal Vidya Mandir school over 40 years ago in Ratlam; Madhya Pradesh which currently houses close to 1,000 underprivileged children who are sponsored by Sajjan; the department of chemical engineering at a university in Gujarat funded by Sajjan; and funding an international standard school — Sajjan Lions International Academy — in Ankleshwar, Gujarat.

“Good health and quality education contribute to the nurturing of young minds,” said Aggarwal. “The project closest to my heart is the school we built in Ratlam, the city in which I was born. We have also been awarded the Gold recognition certificate by EcoVadis putting us in the top two percent of the companies globally.”

“We carry out CSR projects to support the communities in which we work and as we continue to grow our business, we will contribute to the betterment of peoples’ lives.”

www.sajjan.com

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“Just four years ago we employed only 30 people here in Duesseldorf,” said Jeronimo Porras, president of UBE Europe GmbH. “We have grown by creating a diverse and multicultural sales team and our employees understand the complexities of doing business in different markets. Today we have 50 employees from over 10 different countries who converse with clients in 15 different languages.”

This drive for diversity has been a key factor in UBE Europe’s cross-border success in recent years.

“Emerging markets in EMEA are showing signs of economic growth and we have succeeded in establishing new partnerships in many countries,” said Porras. “To do business internationally, it’s important to have an understanding of local cultures and employ appropriate business etiquette. An international city such as Duesseldorf in the heart of Europe is advantageous as we are able to attract top talent from different countries and travel more easily to clients across EMEA.”

In the early 2010s, the UBE Group showed its commitment to Europe by investing in a $290 million manufacturing facility in Castellón, Spain; still one of the largest Japanese investments in the country. To enable closer scientific collaboration between Japan and Europe, a research and development center was also established; the first for the UBE Group outside of Japan.

“Today, as we grow our business, we are open to new ventures, investments and mergers and acquisitions in Europe,” said Porras.

“We will continue to increase our sales volume by taking advantage of opportunities, establishing collaborations, diversifying our business and introducing innovative products that contribute to the needs of modern society. Our Japanese colleagues fully support us and the trust we share has led to our success. UBE Europe GmbH is not conducting business in the ‘usual’ manner; we are doing something new and innovative, and this approach will continue to move the company forward.”

www.ube.es/en

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The company recently opened its first retail store in Singapore’s famous Takashimaya Shopping Centre on Orchard Road. Today, Meisei & Co.’s flagship store Healthy Port specializes in new product lines imported from Japan. “In Japan, stores such as Healthy Port are relatively common compared with Singapore where such products can only be purchased online,” said Meisei & Co. Managing Director Mike Kataoka.

“We found a niche in the market that we decided to explore and have successfully developed our business.” Japan is addressing issues related to its aging population.

“Japanese companies are developing a wide range of products to improve the quality of life of the elderly by making them more comfortable, mobile and flexible,” said Kataoka.

It is predicted by 2030, a quarter of Singapore’s population will be aged 65 and over — a figure very similar to that of Japan’s demographic today.

One of the leading products Kataoka has introduced to the market is the Geltron gel range of mattresses, pillows and cushions. These utilize the Japan-developed and patented Geltron ‘block-technology,’ which boasts functionality and superior support.

“We have supplied our Geltron mattresses to several hospitals and nursing homes in Singapore and have received very positive feedback,” said Kataoka.

The technology delivers support and breathability and encourages blood flow, which is essential for the elderly or infirm.

“Geltron products are available at Healthy Port and we are actively strengthening consumers’ brand-awareness of these exciting new products,” concluded Kataoka. “In the years to come, as Singapore faces the challenges of an aging population, we fully intend to supply our products to an increasing number of nursing homes and hospitals across Singapore to benefit people’s lives.”

healthyport.meiseisp.com.sg

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“It is our responsibility to lead by example,” said Fan. “We have invested heavily in research and development and have collaborated with world-class global brands in both supply chain and environmental initiatives. For the Oceans is a program that recycles ocean-found plastic bottles to produce sportswear and fashion items. We collaborated with Coca-Cola to develop the world’s first 100 percent Bio-PET bottle launched at Expo Milano 2015 and also unveiled the first 100 percent Bio-PET polyester shirt.”

Japan is FENC’s second-largest foreign market for PET products. As a country passionate about environmental awareness and sustainability, the demand for recycled products in Japan has grown substantially over the past decade.

In April 2013, FENC entered into a joint-venture partnership with Ishizuka Glass Co., Ltd. to establish the Far Eastern Ishizuka Green PET Corporation (FIGP). The company, based in Japan, produces and distributes recycled PET products.

“We expect FIGP’s current production capacity of 35,000 metric tons of recycled PET to double within two years,” said Fan. “Almost 85 percent of consumer waste is recycled in Japan and the Japanese understand the importance of sustainability, just as we do. Looking forward, our mission is to continue innovating and investing in the development of high-quality recyclables and bio-based materials for the betterment of environments in Taiwan, Japan and around the world.”

www.fenc.com

Today, the company produces almost 30,000 metric tons of synthetic magnesium compounds.
Doing business in an often challenging industry, Oolbekkink recalls the company’s approach to facing market pressures and planning for the future:

Kisuma Chemicals’ almost one hundred employees will celebrate the company’s twentieth anniversary next year and as the company’s first non-Japanese managing director, Oolbekkink is confident about the company’s future.

“We intend to deliver the best products to our customers and be a sustainable long-term employer. We will continue to co-operate with clients, universities, and research institutes as we strengthen our business and plan for future growth”.

www.kisuma.com

“From high-performance tires, fiber-optic cables, airplanes and helicopters, lithium batteries, mattresses, ropes, military and police equipment, ‘Twaron’ can be found literally everywhere”, says Gert Frederiks, President and CEO of Teijin Aramid.

“By being tougher and lighter than steel, non-magnetic and maintenance-free, ‘Twaron’ is the ideal material for almost anything and given its light-weight properties, it is also an energy efficient material”.

With strong corporate social responsibility commitments, Teijin Aramid is constantly sharing products and technology with society and today ‘Twaron’ can be found at one of Amsterdam’s most notable attractions, the Stedelijk Museum.

“We worked with the architect to extend the Stedelijk Museumusing ‘Twaron’ which has a negative expansion coefficient”, says Frederiks. “Any other material would have been ‘expandable’ and therefore unsuitable”.

Frederiks, who has been heading Teijin Aramid since 2010,recently announced an increase in capacity of more than twenty five per cent over the next five years in order to cope with high demand.

“We are looking forward to the future and fully expect demand to increase as we strengthen our existing customer base by winning new business”.

www.teijinaramid.com