In China coatings industry, the a corporations that have used Duranate isocyanate curing agent all know it is the product from Asahi Kasei Corporation. Actually, Asahi Kasei is not professional coatings raw materials producer. Its business includes basic chemicals, plastics, fibers, medicals and other industries, and it is one of the top 500 worldwide corporations in Fortune. Recently, journalist of Paint & Finishing Consultation interviewed Mr. Ishimura, director of Asahi Kasei Enginery Chemicals Corporation R&D Center.

Strengthen cooperation, and develop together

The history of business in Asahi Kasei Corporation chemicals could be traced back to production of synthetic ammonia 80 years ago, 1923. Nowadays, its business scope has extended to specialty chemicals, basic chemical raw materials, fertilizer, synthetic rubber, fibers, synthetic resin, powders, constructin materials, houses, pharmaceuticals and equipment, food, chemical information, and so on, and plays great influences on various industries. All these success should be contributed to their cooperation principles: establish informative and satisfactory system inside the corporation; as for the competitors, establish joint-venture corporations through pursuing high quality, high efficiency and win-win mechanism. For example, in the last 3 years, this corporation has gained plastics cooperation sources in European and North American, cooperated with Dow Chemicals to produce polystyrene in China, cooperated with Chi-Mei Corporation to produce polycarbonate in Taiwan, cooperated with Wacker Chemicals to produce silicone in Japan, cooperated with Mitsubishi Gas Chemicals Corporation to produce polyoxyphenylene powder in Singapore, and cooperated with Bigbang Corporation to produce polyethylidene ether in China. On July 28, 2003, it sighed cooperation agreement named Application of Duranate polyisocyanate and Polydyrex silicone modisied acrylic emulsion with CNCCC Changzhou Paint & Coatings Chemical Research Center. Asahi Kasei Corporation makes breakthrough——develop together as its principle, creating new values with all employees.

Enlarge R & D investment and promote technology progress When the journalist asked the R & D situation and program, Mr. Ishimura said that although the sales value in 2002 was 8.8 billion yen less than 2001, the R & D investment remained the same as 2001. They would enlarge the investment of R & D to achieve 8% of sales value.

At present, the world leading chemical corporations have almost entered Chinese market and the competition is quite fierce. Substantively, the market competition is the competition of quality and technology of the products, for which Asahi Kasei Corporation has been ready to face. Asahi Kasei Enginery Chemical Corporation mainly develops polyurethane intermedias and high performance coatings raw materials and relevant operation, of which two key products related to coatings industry are Duranate isocyanate series products and acrylic emusions.

Isocyanate series products include biuret, tripolymer and adduct for 2K coatings, blocked isocyanate and water dispersible isocyanate. Acrylic emusions highlights architectural coatings especially the development of silicone modified acrylic compound used in exterior wall coatings, which is the cooperation project with Wacker Chemicals Corporation. Because of a high contains 30% silicone monomer content, this product could improve the weather resistance, water resistance and dirtpick property of exterior wall coatings, which is expected to become the main product architectural coatings in future.

Developing the market and focusing on future

The competition in China coatings market is becoming increasingly fiercely, as well as the competition in raw materials supply. When the journalist asked their attitude towards this competition, Mr. Ishimura said it was normal and qualty iproducts would not be failed in competition. The isocyanate series products of Asahi Kasei Corporation entered Chinese market later than Bayer and Rhodia, so the sales net is under establishment. Facing the new situation in Chinese coatings market, the products should both have excellent performance-price ratio and be close to market (according to Chinese situation), so Asahi Kasei prepared to cooperate with well-known Paint & Coatings Research Center in China since this March to shorten the time of being accepted by Chinese customers. In operation mode, they change export to produce and sell domestically, which will not only reduce the cost, but can also adjust and improve timely according to feedback from customers.

Influenced by American and worldwide economic depression, economics in Japan is decayed, but China is still developing fast. Especially after entering WTO, foreign corporations entered into Chinese market more conveniently. Attracted by 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and 2010 Shanghai International Exposition, large number of corporations would build offices and houses, which would promote the development of architectural coatings market and relevant market. Asahi Kasei Corporation is confident about this, so they prepared to establish production sites for acrylic emulsion, aluminum paste in Shanghai, and enlarge its investment in 6 coatigs raw mterials of ancyclohexanol, adipic acid, non-yellowing HDI.