Zeon to expand HNBR production capacity

Tokyo – Zeon Corp. has announced plans to expand production capacity for hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) at its manufacturing plant in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture.

The Japanese supplier manufactures the highly oil-resistant HNBR products under the brand name Zetpol at two manufacturing sites in Takaoka, Japan, and Texas, US.

“Demand for Zetpol is expanding in various industrial fields where high heat resistance and high strength are required,” said Zeon in a statement 24 March.

The company, it said, expects to see a ‘stable increase’ in demand in the future.

Zeon said the project will aim to increase production capacity at the Takaoka site by 10% through debottling processes.

The project will be implemented in the autumn this year and the added capacity is expected to come on stream by 2023.