HighChem Company Limited (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and Representative Director: Yuichi Taka; hereinafter "HighChem"), a global chemical trading and manufacturing company, will strengthen its sales network for Ethylene Bis Stearamide (EBS), a high-performance lubricant that the company has been supplying for many years. In response to growing market demand, HighChem will begin maintaining domestic inventory near Nagoya from summer 2026, establishing a rapid and reliable supply system for manufacturers throughout Japan.
What Is Ethylene Bis Stearamide (EBS)?
EBS is a chemical additive that plays an essential role as a lubricant in the processing of plastics and rubber. It provides the following three key functions, helping improve product performance and manufacturing efficiency.
- Internal Lubricant Function: Reduces friction between resin molecules, improving flowability and enabling resin to fill complex molds and thin-wall molded parts more effectively.
- External Lubricant Function: Forms a thin film between the resin and the mold surface, enabling smooth mold release and helping prevent surface defects.
- Dispersing Agent Function: Coats pigments and fillers, allowing them to be uniformly dispersed throughout the resin matrix.
The EBS products supplied by HighChem feature a higher melting point (141.5°C–146.5°C) and superior thermal stability compared with many conventional wax-based additives. As a result, they are suitable for a wide range of engineering plastics requiring high-temperature processing, including ABS, PS, PA, PP, POM, and PBT.
Growing Demand Driven by Advanced Performance Requirements and Sustainability Trends
Today, manufacturers increasingly recognize EBS not merely as a processing aid, but as a material that contributes directly to product performance and processing quality. HighChem's decision to expand its EBS business is supported by three key market trends.
- Advancement of High-Performance Plastics: Demand for thinner and more complex engineering plastic components is increasing, particularly in electric vehicle (EV) applications and precision equipment. This trend is driving greater demand for EBS, which provides superior flowability and mold-release performance.
- Environmental Sustainability:HighChem's EBS is primarily derived from vegetable oil (palm oil). In addition to replacing petroleum-based products, EBS is attracting attention as a processing aid that improves the workability of recycled materials, particularly as regulations promoting recycled-content usage continue to expand, especially in Europe.
- Diversification of Applications: Beyond plastics processing, EBS is increasingly being used in a variety of industrial applications, including lubricants for powder metallurgy, defoaming agents for inks and coatings, and asphalt modifiers.
Partnership with EBS Specialist Manufacturer CHEMPLASA
HighChem works closely with CHEMPLASA TECHNOLOGY SDN BHD, a specialized EBS manufacturer known for its high-quality products and strong production capabilities.
Based in Malaysia, CHEMPLASA operates production facilities with an annual capacity of approximately 45,000 tons. The company combines the advantages of palm oil sourcing with advanced manufacturing technologies developed in China. It has obtained both RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) certification and ISO 14001 certification, demonstrating its commitment to quality management and environmental responsibility.
Overview of the Domestic Inventory Program
To shorten lead times for customers, particularly in the Chubu region, and to provide flexible delivery options including small-lot shipments, HighChem will implement the following inventory program.
- Launch Timing: Beginning sequentially from summer 2026
- Inventory Location: Near Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
- Representative Products: EBS (L-200 Series), Ethylene Bis Oleamide (EBO), Zinc Stearate, and related products
- Product Forms: Available in various particle sizes, ranging from fine powders to bead forms, depending on customer requirements and applications
HighChem will continue contributing to enhanced manufacturing productivity in Japan while supporting the realization of a carbon-neutral society through the stable supply of these products.
About HighChem Company Limited
Combining the agility of a trading company with the technological capabilities of a manufacturer, HighChem serves as a bridge connecting the chemical industries of Japan and China. Today, the company has expanded beyond chemicals into the fields of food, life sciences, and next-generation energy, contributing to the realization of a sustainable society.
- Company Name: HighChem Company Limited
- Head Office: 11F Tokyo Toranomon Global Square, 1-3-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
- President and Representative Director: Yuichi Taka
- Business Description: Trading Business / Licensing Business / Catalyst Development, Mass Production & Contract Manufacturing / Green Chemical & Next-Generation Energy Development
For more information, please contact:
- ＜HighChem Company Limited Public Relations office＞
- Ms. Kuroiwa (+81-90-6539-4213) TEL: +81-3-5251-8580 E-mail: koho@highchem.co.jp
