Chemelot
info@chemelot.nl
info@chemelot.nl
Mitsui Chemicals is strengthening its world-class position and meets the growing demand for lightweight polypropylene car parts in Europe.
Due to the worldwide trend to limit greenhouse gas emissions, the automotive market has seen a sharp increase in demand for lightweight solutions based on polypropylene plastic materials. In this way the weight of cars is reduced and this has a positive effect on fuel consumption and therefore on the reduction of CO2 emissions. This contributes to the further sustainability of car use
By establishing a branch in the Netherlands that focuses on production, sales, technological service structure and R & D functionalities, the company is able to expand its European market and to serve customers directly and tailor-made. Mitsui also strengthens their Group's global network.
After a careful selection procedure, Mitsui Chemicals has the intention to establish at Chemelot. This is partly due to the fact that the automotive cluster at Chemelot is well represented with players such as SABIC, Arlanxeo, DSM, Sekisui, Brightlands Materials Center, Polyscope, and with VDL Nedcar and a number of suppliers in the immediate environment. In addition, the presence of the umbrella license, central utilities and maintenance offers a great advantage. The presence of the Brightlands Chemelot Campus also offers opportunities for the European R & D facilities of the organization.
“We are confident that our location at Chemelot will be extremely beneficial in providing global service and best quality materials for our key global and local customers. We would to especially thank the Province of Limburg and Chemelot for the outstanding support during our investigation.“ said Mr. Niki, Director Global Planning Mitsui Chemicals Inc.
In first instance, the production location will be realized at the Industrial Park, for which the license application has already been submitted to the authorities. The planning is that production will start mid-2020, resulting in direct employment of about 100 jobs. This is not a heavy chemical industry. The production consists of compounding polypropylene (mixing plastics with fillers at higher temperatures).
Provincial Economy and Knowledge Infrastructure, Joost van den Akker (VVD), is proud that once again a large Japanese company has chosen to settle in Limburg. That is also positive for our employment. "Mitsui Chemicals is a large internationally operating chemical company. In recent years, several Japanese companies have chosen branches in Limburg. We see that a Japanese community arises here that also attracts new investors from that country. That Mitsui, with a factory and a Research & Development department, chooses the Chemelot location is a confirmation that our region is more and more seen internationally as a leading chemical site. This is partly due to the distinctive combination of the Chemelot Industrial Park and the Brightlands Chemelot Campus."
Robert Claasen, Director of Chemelot, is pleased with the proposed arrival of Mitsui Chemicals to Chemelot: "I am convinced that we can do a lot for each other. Our way of working together at the Industrial Park and with the Brightlands Chemelot Campus has proved its worth. Mitsui Chemicals, like Chemelot, attaches great importance to sustainability and innovation and makes the explicit choice to further strengthen their European position within Chemelot in the automotive sector. The fact that they are going to do this from our location and together with us, is something that I regard as a compliment for the way in which we collaborate with Chemelot and with all involved authorities."
The Mitsui Chemicals Group now has production sites in eight of the most important global markets (Japan, United States, Europe, Mexico, Thailand, China, India, Brazil) and five R & D locations (Japan, US, Europe, Thailand, China), for high-quality PP compound used in automotive applications, and improvement of production, sales, technology service structure. In addition, there is an R & D function at these locations to provide a solution for the large demand from car manufacturers to further reduce the weight of the cars.