Left: HighChem Executive Director and Head of Trade Division, Jin Song Lin / Right: PreChem General Manager, Winter Yu
HighChem and Shenzhen PreChem New Materials Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as PreChem) held a signing ceremony at HighChem's Tokyo headquarters to formalize their agency agreement for the distribution of the high-performance solvent EEP (Ethyl 3-Ethoxypropionate) in the Japanese market. Moving forward, the partnership will not only focus on EEP but will also expand to include other high-performance solvents offered by PreChem, such as MMP (Methyl 3-Methoxypropionate) and MAK (Methyl Amyl Ketone).
EEP: A High-Performance Solvent Derived from Plant-Based Materials
EEP, widely used as a solvent in automotive and industrial applications in Japan, has gained attention in recent years as a high-performance solvent due to its combination of a high boiling point, excellent solubility, and slow evaporation rate, making it ideal for easy application in coatings. Additionally, its partial use of plant-based raw materials has positioned it as an environmentally friendly solvent. HighChem showcased this material at the Sustainable Materials Expo held in October, where it attracted significant interest from attendees.
PreChem Expands EEP Production Capacity!
New EEP Plant Scheduled for Completion in 2025
PreChem, the company with which HighChem recently signed a sales agency agreement, is a China-based chemical manufacturer headquartered in Shenzhen. Specializing in specialty monomers and functional solvents, PreChem operates on a global scale. The company has earned international trust, as demonstrated by receiving a Silver rating from EcoVadis, an internationally recognized organization that evaluates the CSR policies of suppliers.
Currently, PreChem operates a plant in China with an annual production capacity of 10,000 tons of EEP, supplying products to markets in Japan, Europe, and the United States. By producing its own raw material, ethyl acrylate, PreChem ensures consistent, integrated production from raw materials to the finished product, providing a stable supply chain as one of its key strengths. In response to the growing demand for high-performance solvents, PreChem plans to construct a new EEP plant in China by 2025. Once completed, the new facility will boost the company’s production capacity to 25,000 tons per year, positioning PreChem as the world’s largest supplier of EEP.
Expanding Applications for EEP: From General-Purpose to Advanced Uses Like Photoresist Solvents
Demand for EEP as an industrial solvent has been steadily rising due to its exceptional performance. However, its adoption in general-purpose applications has been limited due to its historically low supply and high cost. At the same time, EEP holds potential for advanced uses, such as in photoresist solvents, making it a promising product for a wide range of industries, including the semiconductor sector.
With PreChem’s recent expansion of production capacity, the scope of EEP applications is expected to grow significantly. The increased supply could not only address the cost challenges for general-purpose uses but also enable broader adoption in high-performance applications like photoresist production. This development highlights EEP's potential to become a key material in both standard and cutting-edge industries.
Applications of EEP
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