May, 2008 - Tosoh Specialty Chemicals USA

Tosoh is marching on two fronts in its quest to become a hybrid company with a balanced portfolio of commodities and specialties.  As part of the Specialties growth strategy, Tosoh early 2008 announced an investment of ¥20 billion to substantially increase its ethyleneamine capacity.   Investment and manufacturing however is only half of the story to successful growth.  An investment in capacity also requires shifts to occur in sales and marketing operations.  This is where establishment of our latest Tosoh Group member, Tosoh Specialty Chemicals USA, Inc., (TSCU) comes into the picture.

The new Tosoh Group member, Tosoh Specialty Chemicals USA, Inc., was established in early 2008 for the marketing and business development of Tosoh Corporation’s ethyleneamines, TEDA and Toyocat® polyurethane catalysts, and MDI products.  Operations commenced on May 1, 2008 with the Vice President, Ken Gay, leading the team from headquarters located in Alpharetta, Georgia.  Tosoh Specialty Chemicals USA will be working directly with the Tosoh’s Organic Chemicals Division in Tokyo which will allow for a stronger business presence in the Americas. 

Ethyleneamines

Ethyleneamines and their derivatives find use in a wide variety of applications, such as epoxy hardeners, wet-strength resins for paper, chelates, and pharmaceutical and agrochemical intermediates. The expansion of the Company’s ethyleneamine operations, based at the Nanyo Complex in Yamaguchi, Japan, will boost Tosoh’s total ethyleneamine capacity to 89,000 MT a year and make it one of the world’s top ethyleneamine manufacturers. Tosoh’s annual sales of ethyleneamines are projected to exceed ¥30 billion following the expansion.