Zeon Increases Global Nitrile Capacity

01-13-2010: To increase NBR capacity, Zeon Corp. in Japan is investing $1 million dollars to improve production procedures at its acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) production facility in Tokuyama. The improvements will increase Zeon’s NBR capacity in Japan up to 55,000 tons from 45,000 tons previously.

The change is part of a re-evaluation of global production structure. The increased production capacity will allow for the transfer of 10,000 tons of NBR previously manufactured in the USA for Zeon Chemicals L.P. under a toll production agreement.

Zeon Chemicals L.P. will continue to operate as normal at its three North America plants in Louisville, KY, Hattiesburg, MS and Houston, TX. All three plants produce oil- and heat-resistant specialty elastomers. The Louisville plant produces specialty NBR and HyTemp® poylacrylate rubber, while Zeon’s Hattiesburg plant manufactures epichlorohydrin rubber under the Hydrin trademark and the Texas facility produces hydrogenated nitrile polymers under the Zetpol® name.