Mitsubishi Plastics, Inc. (head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; president: Hiroshi Yoshida) has decided to install additional equipment for manufacturing its MAFTEC™ alumina fiber at its Naoetsu Plant (located in Joetsu, Niigata), and has recently begun construction work.

MPI manufactures MAFTEC™ alumina fiber at its Naoetsu and Sakaide plants. MAFTEC's many superb features include the ability to maintain heat insulation and cushioning for long periods under temperature conditions exceeding 1,600oC (2,912oF). For this reason, it is highly popular among consumers as an insulator for steelmaking, and a supporting material for catalytic converters and diesel particular filters* (DPF) used to treat automotive exhaust. In particular, it accounts for approximately 40% of the worldwide market for supporting materials in catalytic converters and DPFs* (MPI estimate).

MPI is taking a number of steps in response to strong market demand for equipment to treat automotive exhaust, including expanding its existing production lines, but it expects its current manufacturing capacity (about 4,500 tons/year) to become a limit to supply in fiscal 2011. It has therefore decided to install new equipment with a manufacturing capacity of about 300 tons/year. MPI decided to install the new equipment at its Naoetsu Plant, because this will enable it to finish construction in the shortest time through the use of existing infrastructure and the like, and because it will enable it to respond to strong market demand in the shortest possible time. Construction is scheduled to finish in end-March 2011.

Demand for alumina fiber is expected to continue to grow, especially as a supporting material in catalytic converters and DPFs* for treatment of automotive exhaust, as a consequence of stricter exhaust regulations being put into place worldwide. MPI is also considering further expansions of its production capacity while focusing on the market situation, in order to provide a stable supply as a manufacturer.

*A diesel particulate filter (DPF) is an apparatus that cleans soot from the exhaust of diesel engines.

 

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	Public Relations Section, General Administration Dept., Mitsubishi Plastics Inc. TEL: +81-3-3279-3800