Discontinuation of Asaflex™ clear styrenic block copolymer business
August 27, 2021
Asahi Kasei Corp.
Asahi Kasei has decided to discontinue its business for Asaflex™ clear styrenic block copolymer.
Asaflex™ has been manufactured at Asahi Kasei’s Kawasaki Works since 1982 and supplied to customers around the world for some 39 years. Recently, however, with the deterioration of its profitability caused by environmental factors such as obscure business prospects in major markets, it has become difficult to formulate a strategy for future expansion. The decision was thus made to discontinue the business.
Overview of the discontinuing business
- Business
- Clear styrenic block copolymer
- Brand name
- Asaflex™
- Applications
- Shrink labels for bottles, food containers, sundry goods, etc.
- Manufacturing plant
- Kawasaki Works (Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan)
- Production capacity
- Undisclosed
Outline of the closure
- Schedule for cessation of manufacture
- March 31, 2023
- Schedule for cessation of sales
- September 30, 2023
- Disposition of employees
- To be reassigned to other businesses of Asahi Kasei
Under the Cs+ for Tomorrow 2021 medium-term management initiative, Asahi Kasei is transforming its business portfolio for sustainability and high added value. The allocation of management resources is prioritized based on the four perspectives of high profitability, high market growth, priority fields for provision of value, and sustainability. The decision to discontinue the Asaflex™ business was made in light of such perspectives. The management resources of the Asaflex™ business will be reallocated to other businesses.