Teijin Corporation (Thailand) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Teijin Limited, has recently announced that it has begun producing Teijinconex neo, a new type of highly heat-resistant and dyeable meta-aramid fiber, in its Thailand facility. It is now the first company to ever produce high-function, high-performance fibers in the ASEAN region.
The plant, with a capacity to produce 2,200 tons per annum, was built at a cost of around JPY 4.5 billion (USD 36 million) and has begun operating with a workforce of 70 people. The site measures 22,985 square meters. Construction of the plant started in December 2013.
Teijinconex neo offers unsurpassed heat resistance and excellent dyeability that enable highly diversified solutions for the design and manufacture of protective apparel. Teijin’s production technologies assure that products are compliant with REACH and other environmental regulations directly out of the factory, without additional treatment.
The new product will strengthen Teijin’s position and competitiveness in the emerging markets of Asia and other regions, where the demand for heat-resistant, flame-retardant high-performance materials is growing. Teijin expects to take a leading position in the global market for protective apparel, targeting sales of JPY 20 billion (USD 160 million) by 2020.
“Teijin first began operating in Thailand in 1966 and now has seven group companies with 1,500 employees. We are also expanding our automotive rubber materials business in Thailand and are shifting polyester fibers production to this market from Japan. Going forward, we will upgrade our production and processing capabilities for high-performance fibers by steadily introducing advanced technologies in Thailand, the hub of the ASEAN region” says Mr. Tadashi Sakata, President of Teijin Corporation (Thailand).
Teijin’s Teijinconex meta-aramid fiber, Twaron and Technora para-aramid fibers, Pyromex flame-resistant fiber and Endumax high-performance polyethylene have made significant contributions to the advancement of protective apparel over the decades. Today, strong demands exist in developed markets for protective clothing made with aramid fibers offering comfort, maneuverability and excellent dyeability, as well as high protection. In Asia and other emerging countries, rising standards for protective apparel are boosting the demand for Teijinconex and Teijinconex neo meta-aramid fibers.