Development of Funcster (long-fiber glass reinforced thermoplastic resin) in U.S.

Chisso Corporation (head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, president: Shunichi Okada) and Audia Group Inc. (head office: Pennsylvania, U.S., CEO: Robert Andy) have agreed to start the feasibility study (FS) for establishing a joint corporation (JV) for performing manufacture and sales of the long-fiber glass reinforced thermoplastic resin "Funcster" proprietary to Chisso in the U.S

In this FS, the feasibility of constructing a plant having production capacity of 10,000 tons/year by Chisso technology and that of business management are planned to be studied.

Funcster is the long-fiber glass reinforced thermoplastic resin for injection molding developed by the unique technology proprietary to Chisso. Funcster has excellent stiffness and excellent impact resistance such that Funcster can produce the performance equivalent to the moldings by the conventional stampable sheet processing. Funcster is the high performance resin having the possibility of significantly improving the productivity.

Since Chisso has put Funcster on the market in 1994, Chisso has stimulated broad application developments for functional components in home appliances, industrial components, automobile fields and others, and for large-sized structural members. The sales are expanded centering on structural members for automobiles.

In addition, Funcster is sold in domestic markets through Japan Polypropylene Corporation (head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo, president: Etsujiro Takashita) jointly operated with the Mitsubishi Chemical group, and sold in overseas markets by Chisso itself.

Audia Group Inc.

Audia Group Inc. includes Washington Penn Plastic Co., Inc., Uniform Color Company and Southern Polymers, Inc. as affiliated companies. Audia Group Inc. is performing developments, manufacture and sales of various performance polymers, polyolefin compounds, and pigment concentrated masterbatches to provide various products and services not only in the U.S. but also in the international markets in the fields such as automotives, electric appliances, packaging, housing, and commercial buildings.