Sandra Pikulski

TOKYO, Japan – July 31, 2014 – Faced with growing global demand, KH Neochem Co., Ltd. announced that it has increased production capacity of its 2-Ethyl Hexanoic Acid by 10 percent.

KH Neochem Co., Ltd. is one of the world’s leading producers of 2-Ethyl Hexanoic Acid, which has seen continued market growth in recent years. The versatile product is a key component in plasticizers, lubricants, cosmetics, coatings and resins, among other high-performance applications.

Further production expansion is also under consideration, including the production of other carboxylic acids at the Yokkaichi plant. According to a KH Neochem spokesman, the decision will be based on continuing market pressures and in keeping with KH Neochem’s commitment to act as a responsive and reliable business partner and resource.

CHIBA, Japan – July 1, 2014 – KH Neochem announced that it had opened a new research lab at the company’s Chiba manufacturing plant.

The new lab will focus on developing new chemicals based on KH Neochem’s core OXO reaction technology, improving the OXO process, while supporting our production engineers. The OXO process produces alcohols and acids from raw materials with double bonds.

KH Neochem’s Chiba plant specializes in the production of fairly large alcohols and acids such as isononanoic acid and tridecyl alcohol, raw materials used extensively in the production of synthetic ester base oils and in lubricant additives.

SCHAUMBURG, Illinois — On April 1, 2012, exactly one year after its initial launch, Kyowa Hakko Chemical Americas, Inc. will be renamed KH Neochem Americas, Inc., according to a company spokesman. The company will continue to operate from it current corporate offices in Schaumburg, Illinois.

The move is concurrent with that of Tokyo-based parent company, Kyowa Hakko Chemical Co., Ltd., which will officially change its name to KH Neochem, Ltd. on that same date.

“This transition marks another milestone in our organization’s growth and commitment to serve both established and emerging markets in the Americas,” stated KH Neochem Americas’ president, Jiro Suezawa.

“While our name may have changed, we remain dedicated to making significant contributions to the productivity and financial success of the many clients and industries we serve. With those goals in mind, KH Neochem Americas will offer the highest quality products available, while operating with even greater cost- efficiency, responsiveness and flexibility,” he said.

“Building on our long tradition of excellence, we will also continue to innovate and develop new and better solutions to the challenges inherent in an increasingly competitive marketplace. We are very excited by the prospects for the future,”Suezawa concluded.

KH Neochem Americas’ broad line of products includes synthetic fatty acids, specialty diols, functional monomers and other high-performance chemicals based on proprietary synthesis technologies. Lubricants, adhesives, agricultural chemicals, coatings, cosmetics and toiletries are among the many industry categories in which the products perform key roles.