Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. (MRC) has decided to launch production of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2HEMA), a raw material for paints and adhesives, at Daesan MMA Corp. of South Korea (Head office: Jeollanam-do, Co-representative and President: Lee Ahn Ki; hereafter “Daesan MMA”), a joint venture set up with Honam Petrochemical Corp. (Head office: Seoul, South Korea, President: Chong Bum Shick, hereafter “Honam”).

Product Name: 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2HEMA)
Capacity: 11,000 tons/year
Launch of production: April 2013 (scheduled)
At: Within Honam Petrochemical plant, in Daesan-eup, Seosan-City, Jeollanam-do, South Korea

Currently, MRC only produces 2HEMA in Japan. In light of expected strong global growth in the Asian automotive sector and in America and Europe in demand for paint, the main application of 2HEMA, we have decided to launch production at Daesan MMA. This move will enable more competitive 2HEMA production, as the plant already makes its base materials methacrylic acid (MAA) monomer and ethylene oxide (EO).

Established in August 2006 as 50-50% joint venture with Honam, Daesan MMA produces MMA and MAA monomer and MMA chain acrylic resin pellets. With additional facilities for MMA monomer and acrylic resin pellets scheduled to be built between November 2012 and January 2013, the launch of 2HEMA production will strengthen the MMA chain.