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Osamu Ishitobi
Executive Vice President
responsible for Rabigh Project and
Petrochemicals & Plastics Sector |
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| Since 1951, when we began producing polyvinyl chloride, we have been supplying various industries with a wide array of plastics.
We were the first company in Japan to market low-density polyethylene. We also produce linear low-density polyethylene using our own proprietary technology, and also super low-density polyethylene and high-alpha olefin linear low-density polyethylene. In addition, we produce polypropylene, used extensively for household items, materials for automotive parts, building materials, parts for electrical appliances, etc.
Our ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) products Evatate and Sumitate as well as our various specialized ethylene copolymers such as Acryft have gained excellent reputations among customers. Our Espolex series of thermoplastic elastomers (formerly Sumitomo TPE and Sumitomo TPE-SB) exhibit outstanding heat, weather and chemical resistance in addition to their light weight and ease of processing. They are used for an increasing number of applications for a variety of hoses, automotive airbags, stationery products, and artificial leather, among others.
In addition to the above, Group companies Japan Polystyrene Co., Ltd. and Nippon A&L Inc. manufacture and sell polystyrene, and ABS and latex respectively. Other products Sumitomo Chemical handles include a wide variety of plasticizers as well as dehydrochlorinated vinyl, which performs better than polyvinyl chloride. |
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SYNTHETIC RUBBER |
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Sumitomo Chemical supplies Esprene, a highly functional synthetic rubber made mainly from ethylene and propylene. Esprene has excellent resistance against weather, ozone, chemicals and heat. This product is widely used for automobile parts, wire cable coating and construction materials, and in various other applications. We also produce a type of styrene butadiene rubber called Sumitomo SBR. SBR is a general-purpose synthetic rubber used in countless everyday products, such as belts, hoses, shoes and tires, as well as for various industrial applications. We are able to take advantage of the synergy provided by our businesses in the areas of rubber chemicals and additives to improve the quality of synthetic rubber. |
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PRODUCTS FOR FUNCTIONAL POLYMER PROCESSING |
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Adhesive tapes Cutace and Cutclean can be cut with one's fingers
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Cutace and Cutclean are low-tack adhesive tapes that can be cut without the use of scissors. They are mainly used as secondary materials in construction, painting and farming, and have received high praise for their considerably enhanced ease of handling as well as their ability to be safely disposed of through incineration.
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Substitutes for Lumber & Paper Products:
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In response to recent trends toward forestry resource protection and plastics recycling, we have developed and marketed Sunply, a plastic substitute for cardboard; Sumipanel, a thick, hollow-core polypropylene panel; and Sumiceller, a foamed polypropylene sheet. Because these products have excellent weather and water resistance compared to lumber and paper products and are light weight and easy to handle as well, demand for these products is growing. |
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Floor Heating System:
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The Sumithermal System is a revolutionary new floor heating system that uses low-cost nighttime electricity to store heat and then releases the stored heat during the daytime using a material developed by Sumitomo Chemical called Sumithermal, which stores latent heat. This system is used widely throughout Japan in an extensive variety of buildings, including community facilities for senior citizens, child day care centers, hospitals, schools, government buildings, theaters and stores. |
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Related Plants and Laboratories |
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Our Chiba Works was built in 1967 as a large scale petrochemical center to produce a variety of petrochemicals, including synthetic resins, synthetic rubber, industrial chemicals, etc. In 1983, small scale plants at Ehime were closed down and restructured into the Chiba Works to increase the overall competitiveness of our products in this area.
In recent years, the existing products have undergone significant quality improvements to meet the growing and diversifying demands of our times. The Petrochemicals & Plastics Sector has also been strengthening high value-added products, including highly functional resins such as polymer alloys, and materials for electronics such as high purity chemicals. Cost curtailment is a continuing effort here. |
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Product Information
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Ethylene/ Propylene/ Acetaldehyde/ Benzene/ Toluene/ Xylene/ Styrene monomer/ Propylene oxide/ Isobutylene/ n-Butylene/ Low density polyethylene/ Polypropylene/ Ethylene-vinylacetate copolymer resins/ Thermoplastic elastomers/ Polymer alloys/ Styrene-butadiene rubber/ Ethylene-propylene rubber/
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Petrochemicals Research Laboratory
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The Petrochemical Research Laboratory is engaged in a wide range of R&D activities including basic to applied research on petrochemicals.
Polymer research at the Laboratory covers various polymers, such as polyolefins, polymer alloys and synthetic rubber. It is also involved in product development, manufacturing process improvements including catalysts, facilitating rationalization of the existing plants, new product/grade development through improvement of physical properties, and technical support to customers.
The Laboratory also conducts research in catalyst and organosynthetic chemistry for the production of industrial and specialty chemicals, aiming at novel process development using its own technologies, rationalization of existing plants by changing catalysts, and the development of high value-added products by utilizing by-products and/or intermediates. |
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Plastics Technical Center
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The Plastics Technical Center has been consistently engaged in plastic products development as well as development of process techniques. Orienting itself to its markets, it has sought to reflect customers’ needs in manufacturing and developing new products/grades.
It has also made significant efforts to develop new special function products and successfully launched agricultural films with excellent heat/ray absorption properties. It is now working to develop new plastics molding technology and mold design technology through a computer-aided process.
In January 1994, a new center equipped with a number of commercial processing machines was installed in Chiba with the aim of developing application and processing proposals to better meet the needs of customers. |
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Major Affiliated Companies |
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Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore ( Pte.) Ltd. (PCS)
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PCS was incorporated under the initiative of Sumitomo Chemical as part of the economic cooperation between Singapore and Japan. A major hub of the petrochemical industry in Singapore, the Company’s equity ownership is divided equally (50:50) between Sumitomo (with other Japanese partners) and Shell Eastern Petroleum. The plant went on stream in 1984, and has been playing a pivotal role in the complex by supplying such high-quality raw materials as ethylene, propylene, acetylene and butadiene to downstream companies. |
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The Polyolefin Company (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. (TPC)
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TPC commissioned its facilities in 1984 as the first polyolefin producer in South East Asia. The current equity ratio is 70:30, divided between Japanese owners (including Sumitomo) and Shell Eastern Petroleum. The Company is a leading polyolefin manufacturer in the region, marketing high-quality low-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene and polypropylene to neighboring countries including China.
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