Tosoh boosts zirconia powder production capacity
Tosoh Corp., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a global manufacturer of basic and fine chemicals, petrochemicals, and specialty products covering a broad spectrum of materials including zirconia grinding and dispersion media, zirconia fine beads and powders, zirconia injection moulded components and zirconia-based feedstocks for Ceramic Injection Moulding.
For its first half 2018, the company reported consolidated net group sales of ¥391.7 billion ($3.5 billion), up 16.2%, from the same period a year earlier. Net sales by the Specialty Group, which includes the zirconia-based materials, increased by ¥9.6 billion, or 11.6%, to ¥91.9 billion ($827.6 million). In March 2016, the Specialty Group launched commercial production of zirconia powder at the Nanyo Complex’s new zirconia manufacturing facilities in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. This was followed by a similar launch at the company’s Yokkaichi Complex in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture, in April 2017, further boosting Tosoh’s zirconia powder production capacity.
Tosoh produces a wide range of CIM parts from zirconia and yttria-stabilised zirconia for industrial and commercial applications such as fibre-optic connectors, electronic parts, grinding balls, etc. Recent advances at Tosoh are extending the market for zirconia powder to dental applications and decorative fashion accessories, including watch cases and bracelet parts.
