Asahi Kaisei Adr - AHKSY STOCK NEWS

Asahi Kasei, a Japanese technology company, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Aquafil S.p.A., an Italian manufacturer of polyamide 6 (PA6), to develop a novel material for 3D printing applications. The collaboration aims to combine Aquafil's ECONYL® Polymer, a chemically recycled PA6, with Asahi Kasei's cellulose nanofiber (CNF).

The resulting compound, in the form of pellets or filaments, offers superior formability and strength, making it suitable for automotive and aeronautical applications. ITOCHU , which has invested in Aquafil, is supporting this initiative. Asahi Kasei plans to begin trial sales of the new compound material's filament in Q3 2025 across the EU, US, and Japan markets.

The innovative material will be showcased at upcoming industry events, including Fakuma, Sustainable Material Expo, and Formnext.

Asahi Kasei America, Inc., the North American regional headquarters of the Asahi Kasei Group, is relocating its corporate office from New York to Novi, Michigan, effective November 1. This strategic move consolidates operations into a 14,403-square-foot facility, streamlining processes and enhancing collaboration with regional business units. The decision follows the 2019 opening of an office in Novi and its significant expansion in 2023.

The new headquarters will serve as a central hub for administrative services across various departments, including communications, human resources, auditing, corporate planning, and finance. This relocation positions Asahi Kasei closer to major OEMs in the automotive sector and aims to better serve its growing client base in the Material, Homes, and Health Care sectors nationwide.

Asahi Kasei has launched a new grade of LASTAN™, a flame-retardant nonwoven fabric designed to enhance EV battery safety. This innovative material offers superior resistance to flames and particle blasts, making it an excellent alternative to conventional materials for thermal runaway protection in EV battery packs.

Key features of LASTAN™ include:

• Resistance to 1,300°C flames
• Protection against 200-500 µm particle impacts
• Electrical insulation up to 3.5 kV at 1 mm thickness
• High flexibility and processability
• LOI value of 50+ and UL94 5VA flame retardance rating

With the EV battery safety market expected to grow 15% annually from 2024, LASTAN™ addresses the increasing demand for lightweight, flexible, and effective thermal runaway protection materials.

Asahi Kasei (AHKSY) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with De Nora for joint development and sale of small-scale pressurized alkaline water electrolyzers for hydrogen production. The collaboration aims to meet growing demand for compact, cost-effective hydrogen production systems, particularly in the 1 to 7.5 MW range.

This partnership leverages Asahi Kasei's nearly 50 years of experience in chlor-alkali electrolysis and De Nora's expertise in electrodes and small-scale electrolyzers. The collaboration is expected to lower barriers for customers adopting water electrolysis technology and contribute to the development of the hydrogen market.

The global installed capacity of water electrolyzers is forecasted to reach approximately 300 GW by 2030, according to the Hydrogen Council. This collaboration positions both companies to capitalize on the rapidly expanding green hydrogen market.

Asahi Kasei Engineering Corp. (AEC) has launched a cloud-based CAE solution platform offering precise apps to predict crash and impact behavior of polymers. The platform includes the downloadable 'i-LUPE' polymer material fracture prediction model and an on-demand mapping tool for anisotropic materials like fiber-reinforced resins. These tools aim to enhance product design and reduce costs and time for material development, particularly in the automotive industry where polymer use is increasing. The platform leverages Asahi Kasei's expertise in CAE technical services for engineering plastics and utilizes cloud-based high-performance computing (HPC) for on-demand software access.

Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM), a subsidiary of Asahi Kasei, has opened the AKM Co-creation & Technology Center in Yokohama City, Japan, in June 2024. This new development base consolidates AKM's product design, R&D for semiconductors and sensors, and partner relations functions. The center features a unique visitor center, a Proof of Concept demonstration area, and an immersive audio room showcasing AKM's VELVET SOUND audio solutions. It also includes a demonstration vehicle area for automotive solutions.

The center aims to accelerate solution development, provide new value to customers, and strengthen collaboration with external partners. AKM expects this consolidation to help quickly identify end-user market issues and create innovative solutions across diverse businesses and technologies.

Asahi Kasei (AHKSY) will showcase its material solutions at Fakuma 2024, focusing on three key areas: EV battery thermal management, improved connectivity, and sustainable material life cycle. Highlights include:

1. XYRON™ mPPE for EV battery thermal management
2. Multilayer cooling pipes for EVs
3. New XYRON™ grades for 5G applications
4. AZP™ transparent polymer for optical devices
5. New SEBS grade for automotive interiors
6. CNF-reinforced polyamide for 3D printing
7. PA66 recycling solutions

These innovations aim to address industry challenges in EV safety, connectivity, lightweighting, and sustainability.

Asahi Kasei Microdevices' Swedish subsidiary, Senseair, has developed Sunlight R290, a gas sensor for highly flammable R290 refrigerant (propane) in HVAC systems. The sensor ensures safe and accurate leak detection, meeting IEC 60335-2-40 safety standards. Key features include:

- High measurement accuracy: +/- 2.5% LFL
- Wide measurement range: 0-100% LFL
- Operating temperature: -40°C to 70°C
- Relative humidity range: 0 to 95%
- Expected service life: over 15 years
- Compact size: 34 mm × 21 mm × 12 mm
- Low power consumption: 94 μA

High-volume shipments are scheduled to begin in September 2024. The sensor addresses the shift towards natural refrigerants due to regulations on PFAS and F-gases.

Asahi Kasei Engineering (AEC) will introduce V-MO, a cloud-based predictive maintenance service for ocean vessel motors, at SMM 2024 in Hamburg, Germany. Developed jointly with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), V-MO uses vibration sensors to detect potential motor abnormalities, enabling proactive repairs and reducing vessel downtime. The system automatically collects and analyzes data, providing continuous condition monitoring without specialized knowledge.

Launched in May 2023, V-MO leverages AEC's 50+ years of vibration diagnosis expertise in plant engineering. In April 2024, MOL Ship Management Singapore decided to implement V-MO on its container vessels. AEC will showcase V-MO's hardware and cloud app at SMM 2024 in the Japan Pavilion, Hall B7.