Mitsui Chemicals America, a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan’s Mitsui Chemicals, has announced plans to build a new production facility for its Milastomer thermoplastic olefin elastomer.

The plant, which will be Mitsui Chemicals’ fourth production base worldwide for Milastomer, will be built at the Ohio site of its US subsidiary Advanced Composites. Capacity will be 6,000 t/y and construction is scheduled to start in January 2019, with completion set for June and commercial operations to begin in October 2019.

The company said the additional capacity will address growing demand in North America. Advanced Composites will be responsible for the plant’s production while Mitsui Chemicals America will handle sales in the region. Mitsui Chemicals markets the soft resin as a substitute for vinyl chloride and vulcanized rubber. Uses include automotive parts, building gaskets, toothbrushes, golf club grips, among others.

According to Mitsui Chemicals, global demand is projected to rise, primarily for applications such as automotive interior covers, weather strips, air bag covers and steering bellows.  Demand for use in automotive interior covers is expected to expand especially in North America, it said.

The company added that it is working to further strengthen its Milastomer business and ensure a steady supply by “correctly gauging” global demand growth and expanding.