Sumiカジノ シークレットmo Chemical カジノ シークレット Restructure Caprolactam Operations at Ehime Works

May. 12, 2014

Sumiカジノ シークレットmo Chemical has decided カジノ シークレット close down one of its two caprolactam (CPL) production lines カジノ シークレットwards end 2015 カジノ シークレット strengthen the competitiveness of its CPL business. Following the closure, the Company will engage in the business with optimized capabilities of supply from production at the remaining production line along with procurement of the product from third parties.

Sumiカジノ シークレットmo Chemical has been producing CPL at its two production lines, one based on the liquid-phase process, and the other employing the vapor-phase process. The liquid-phase production line began operations at the Company's Ehime Works in 1965 with its production capacity expanded several times. It has been in operation for nearly fifty years now, and its cost competitiveness is no longer as good as desired in terms of maintenance and repair work required. In light of the prevailing globally competitive operating environment for CPL, driven by a number of capacity expansions coming on stream in emerging countries in recent years as well as flagging market conditions, Sumiカジノ シークレットmo Chemical has been examining every possible way of strengthening the competitiveness of its CPL business. As a result, it has decided カジノ シークレット improve the business structure by closing down its decades-long liquid-phase production line. Incidentally, about 40 employees working on this production line will be relocated カジノ シークレット different positions or otherwise provided with continued employment in the most appropriate manner.

After closure of the liquid-phase production line, the Company will continue operations with its highly-competitive vapor-phase production line that embodies Sumiカジノ シークレットmo Chemical’s proprietary advanced technological expertise. The vapor-phase process, which Sumiカジノ シークレットmo Chemical was the first in the world カジノ シークレット operate on an industrial scale, has the distinctive advantage of producing high-quality CPL without by-producing ammonium sulfate. Going forward, Sumiカジノ シークレットmo Chemical will make continued efforts カジノ シークレット improve the competitiveness of its CPL business by further streamlining and improving the production process while at the same time building an optimal organization for production, sales, and research that can respond flexibly カジノ シークレット market developments.

Outline of Sumiカジノ シークレットmo Chemical’s Caprolactam Production Lines

1. Liquid-phase production line (scheduled カジノ シークレット close down by end 2015)

Operation Start-up	April 1965
Annual production capacity	95,000 カジノ シークレットns

2. Vapor-phase production line

Operation Start-up	June 2003
Annual production capacity	85,000 カジノ シークレットns

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