Sumitomo Chemical expands polypropylene compounds capability in India

Japanese firm Sumitomo Chemical Company has strengthen its polypropylene (PP) compounds capabilities in India with a production facility in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) to serve the growing demand for plastics from automotive industry. Sumika Polymer Compounds India, the company’s local arm established in July 2013, has started production facility with a capacity of 5,000 tonnes per annum (TPA).

“Given the solid growth of demand, the Indian affiliate’s operation was strengthened with production capabilities newly equipped, and the company held an inauguration ceremony for the production facilities in September 2016,” said Sumitomo in a press release.

Polypropylene compounds are high-performance materials made by kneading synthetic rubber, glass fibres, and inorganic fillers into PP to improve or vary such parameters as impact resistance and functionalities according to target applications, for example, automobile bumpers, interiors and household electrical appliances. Sumitomo Chemical is engaged in polypropylene compounds operations at various locations around the world, fully leveraging the company’s distinct strength of wide feedstock availability via a network of PP manufacturing strongholds in Japan, Singapore and Saudi Arabia, which amount to the production capacity of approximately 1.7 million TPA in total.

With an aim to enhance the company’s businesses associated with the automotive industry, Sumitomo Chemical created automotive materials division in July 2014. The division, which handles PP compound-based products and thermoplastic elastomers, among others, is working to promote a business of offering proposals proactively to customers so as to meet their needs and requirements properly for development of products and applications. Looking ahead, the company will explore opportunities of further expanding and enhancing its global network of production and marketing so that it can respond to customers' diverse needs more swiftly. Expansion in India is part of this strategy.

In addition to India, Sumitomo Chemical has established a new marketing base in Mexico to strengthen its PP business worldwide. So far, the company sold PP compounds in Mexico through its US subsidiary company. In light of rapidly growing automotive production and expecting an unabated strong demand for polypropylene compounds in the years to come, the company recently established Sumika Polymers Mexico as a local marketing arm.