Asahi Kaisei Adr Stock Price, News & Analysis

Asahi Kasei and Honda have signed a shareholders' agreement to transform E-Materials Canada into a joint venture for lithium-ion battery separator production. Honda Canada will acquire a 25% stake through new share subscription, with Honda's total investment reaching approximately C$417 million (US$300 million). The joint venture, to be renamed Asahi Kasei Honda Battery Separator , aims to combine both companies' strengths in material and electrification technologies to produce high-quality separators for lithium-ion batteries. Operations are planned to begin in early 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.

Asahi Kasei Medical has launched Planova™ FG1, a next-generation virus removal filter for biotherapeutics manufacturing, in October 2024. The new filter offers higher flux, approximately 7 times that of Planova™ BioEX, enabling shorter virus filtration time and less risk of virus breakthrough during process suspension. Planova™ FG1 demonstrated high protein filtration and virus removal performance under various conditions, even without a prefilter. It is compatible with standard cleaning and sterilization processes, allowing use with existing biopharmaceutical manufacturing equipment.

Asahi Kasei Medical plans to expand the Planova™ FG1 lineup with larger surface area filters to support efficient process scale-up. The launch aims to solidify the Planova™ brand's presence among biopharmaceutical manufacturers and contribute to safer, more efficient pharmaceutical production as demand for biopharmaceuticals grows by 5-10% annually.

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.