Sumitomo to expand Polyethersulfone capacity

07-Sep-06

To meet increasing demand, particularly for aircraft applications, Sumitomo Chemical plans to expand production capacity for polyethersulfone (PES) at its Ehime Works in Shikoku, Japan from the existing 2,500 tpa to 3,000 tpa. Construction has already commenced for the expansion. An earlier expansion in July this year had increased capacity from 2,000 tons to 2,500 tons. Sumitomo Chemical has decided to undertake this latest expansion with a focus on special grades for aircraft applications in order to meet the increasing demand from its customers from 2007 onward. As the aircraft industry attempts reduction in weight to reduce fuel consumption, carbon fiber composites for aircrafts are being used 3-4 times more than before. As this trend gains momentum, demand for PES used in carbon fiber composites continues to grow rapidly. Sumitomo Chemical is currently the only manufacturer globally to have received approval from major aircraft manufacturers for this special grade of PES for use in aircraft applications. Post expansion, capacity for special grade PES suitable for aircraft applications will be 1,000 tpa, which is anticipated to meet demand up to 2010. PES is a super engineering plastic that exhibits outstanding properties such as light weight, heat resistance, strength and transparency. PES finds application in electronics components and membranes, carbon fiber composites and a range of materials that require these special properties.