We are pleased to announce that our company will provide continuous decomposition technology used for chemical recycling to Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. This technology continuously recovers MMA (methyl methacrylate) monomer from used acrylic resin (PMMA) using a twin-screw kneading extruder from the 'TEX Series'. The 'TEX Series' twin-screw kneading extruder is expected to be applied not only for thermal recycling and material recycling purposes but also for chemical recycling applications. To meet societal needs for recycling technology, we plan to establish a chemical recycling center within our Hiroshima manufacturing facility in 2022. Our group will continue to work on developing products that reduce environmental impact and aims to be a company that contributes to the realization and development of a sustainable society.

Our company, in collaboration with Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd., has developed a resin composite material (Trefa Bio Composite) that contains a high proportion of wood-based biomass as a raw material. This new composite material can reduce plastic usage by more than 50% and also contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In composite materials made from wood-based biomass such as wood powder and pulp, conventional products have faced challenges in heat resistance and moldability. The newly developed Trefa Bio Composite utilizes Nippon Paper's established Trefaction technology for new biomass solid fuels, which imparts heat resistance, grindability, and hydrophobicity to the wood-based biomass. By using the kneading technology of the twin-screw extruder 'TEX' to incorporate this sustainable wood-based biomass material into the resin at a high ratio, we have created a new Trefa Bio Composite that excels in heat resistance and moldability compared to conventional products. This Trefa Bio Composite and cellulose bio composite will be exhibited at Nippon Paper's booth at "TOKYO PACK 2021." Moving forward, our company will continue to enhance the kneading technology of 'TEX' and advance the development of better products.