Mitsui to boost production capacity for APEL™, cyclic olefin copolymer

APEL™ cyclic olefin copolymer

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. announced that it would establish a new plant within Osaka Works, Takaishi, Osaka Prefecture, to produce the APEL™ series of cyclic olefin copolymers. Finding its major application in smartphone camera lenses, APEL™ is meeting with surging demand driven by a recent trend toward multi-lens cameras in these devices. Mitsui Chemicals is therefore looking to set up a supply system able to deal with this increased demand.

By establishing the new plant, Mitsui Chemicals’ production capacity for APEL™ will rise by approximately 50 percent. Construction on the new plant is starting this month and is slated to wrap up in March 2022.

Plans going forward are to further grow Mitsui Chemicals’ APEL™ business by capturing new demand in applications such as lens, optical parts, industrial parts, medical barrier sheet and packaging, film and bottle.

Mitsui Chemicals is positioning its Performance Polymers Division – which includes APEL™ and is focused on ICT – as a growth sector. Through this latest production capacity increase, Mitsui Chemicals expects that it will be able to continue meeting increased demand here for the time being. But to properly respond to further demand growth going forward, Mitsui Chemicals will now begin to also consider its next production increase for the series.