News Release
HighChem Partners with Soon-to-be World's Largest EEP Manufacturer, Expanding Green Solvent Availability in Japan
TOKYO, [September 13,2024] - HighChem Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Taka Ushio) announced that it has entered into a distribution agreement with Shenzhen Prechem New Materials Co., Ltd. (Prechem) for the high-performance solvent EEP (Ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate) in the Japanese market. Sales are scheduled to begin this fall.
New Prechem plant to be completed in 2025
EEP: An Eco-Friendly, High-Performance Solvent
EEP, widely used as a solvent in automotive and industrial applications in Japan, has been gaining attention as a high-performance solvent due to its high boiling point, strong dissolving power, and slow volatility, which makes it ideal for painting applications. Moreover, it is an environmentally friendly solvent due to some of its raw materials being plant-based.
Prechem's Production Expansion to Become World's Largest
Prechem currently operates a plant in China with an annual EEP production capacity of 10,000 tons, supplying products to Japan, Europe, and the United States. One of Prechem's strengths is its integrated manufacturing process, producing ethyl acrylate, a raw material for EEP, in-house, ensuring a stable supply chain. Due to the increasing demand for high-performance solvents, Prechem plans to establish a new plant in China by 2025.
Upon completion, the production capacity will reach 25,000 tons per year, making Prechem the world's largest EEP supplier.
Expanding Applications in High-Tech and General Industries
The demand for EEP as an industrial solvent has been increasing yearly due to its high functionality. However, its use in general applications has been limited due to low supply and high prices. EEP can also be used in high-performance applications such as photoresist solvents, making it a promising product for various fields, including the semiconductor industry.
With Prechem's increased production capacity, EEP is expected to find applications not only in general solvent uses that were previously limited by price but also in high-performance applications like photoresists.
"This partnership with Prechem marks a significant milestone in our commitment to providing sustainable and high-performance chemical solutions to the Japanese market," said Jinsong Lin, Senior Managing Director of HighChem. "By introducing EEP on a larger scale, we're not only meeting the growing demand for eco-friendly solvents but also enabling innovations across various industries."
HighChem, as a bridge between Japan and China, has built a system that allows customers to use Chinese products with confidence. This system goes beyond proposing competitively priced Chinese products to include selecting reliable manufacturers and implementing thorough quality control measures. HighChem responds carefully and promptly to all customer needs, including functional and general chemicals, as well as addressing recent shortages in semiconductor materials and rapidly developing battery materials.
About HighChem Co., Ltd. （https://highchem.co.jp/)
Company Name: HighChem Co., Ltd.
Location: 11th Floor, Tokyo Toranomon Global Square, 1-3-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
President: Taka Ushio
Business Overview: Import/export and sales of chemicals, contract manufacturing, technology licensing-related operations, catalyst manufacturing and sales, biodegradable materials sales, etc.
About Shenzhen Prechem New Materials Co., Ltd. : Prechem is a leading chemical manufacturer headquartered in Shenzhen, China, specializing in specialty monomers and functional solvents. The company has gained international recognition for its commitment to sustainability, as evidenced by its Silver certification from EcoVadis. With the completion of its new plant in 2025, Prechem is set to become the world's largest EEP supplier.
For more information, please contact:
＜HighChem Co., Ltd. Public Relation＞
Contact: Ms. Kuroiwa (+81-90-6539-4213) TEL: +81-3-5251-8580 E-mail: koho@highchem.co.jp