Japanese Chemical Companies Form Joint Venture in Griffin

Japanese Chemical Companies Form Joint Venture in Griffin

Sumika Polymer Compounds America, Inc. to create 50 jobs

TOKYO, Japan – Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that two major Japanese chemical companies are forming a joint venture to be located in Griffin. The new venture, called Sumika Polymer Compounds America, Inc. (SPCA), will create 50 jobs in a plastic manufacturing facility supplying automotive parts. Governor Perdue announced the project from Tokyo, where he is attending the joint meeting of SEUS-Japan and Japan-U.S. Southeast Associations.

"The strength of Georgia's automotive industry and our valuable economic partnership with Japan made this project possible," said Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue. "This economic development mission and the SEUS-Japan conference allows us to forge the very partnerships that continue to bring great jobs and important investments to Georgia."

SPCA will manufacture polypropylene compounds for the automotive industry.  The company plans to build a 90,000 square foot facility on a 30-acre site at the Hudson Industrial Park in Griffin.  The joint venture facility between Sumitomo Chemical and Toyo Ink Group, both based in Tokyo, is expected to be online in early 2009.

The Governor and Mrs. Perdue, State Senate Majority Leader Tommie Williams and GDEcD Commissioner Ken Stewart met with Mr. Hiromasa Yonekura, President of Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. as part of an economic development mission to Japan and Korea.  Mr. Yonekura is also currently serving as the Chairman of the Japan-US Southeast Association.

“This project in Griffin is a vital step for the global expansion of our plastics business, not only for the joint venture itself, but also for the parent companies,” said Teruhiko Doi, the newly appointed President of SPCA. “In Georgia, there are many factors that attract manufacturers like us to locate our facilities here: its position as one of the major automobile producing regions, not to mention the presence of efficient infrastructure in Griffin. We are grateful to state and local officials for their extensive support.”

 “We are glad to welcome SPCA to Griffin,” said Alton Knight, chairman of the Griffin-Spalding Development Authority. “They will be great corporate citizens and have a significant impact on the community.”

“Landing SPCA is a direct result of a strong partnership between our authority and the State of Georgia,” said David Luckie, Executive Director of the Griffin-Spalding Development Authority. “We really appreciate relationships with agencies like GDEcD to help us attract more jobs and investment to Griffin-Spalding County.”

Sumitomo Chemical (www.sumitomo-chem.co.jp) includes 100 companies operating around the world in six business sectors: basic chemicals, petrochemicals and plastics, fine chemicals, IT-related chemicals, agricultural chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

The Toyo Ink Group, headed by Tokyo-based parent Toyo Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd., (www.toyoink.co.jp), consists of 26 companies in Japan and 47 companies from 16 countries around the world.  It is a leading manufacturer and supplier of a variety of chemical products based on its unique color materials, adhesives and resins technologies accumulated over a century of manufacturing expertise in pigments and printing inks.

Governor Perdue’s delegation will next head to Korea to call on companies, including several Kia suppliers before returning to the U.S. on October 19.  A copy of the Governor’s itinerary is posted on the Web site www.StateofGeorgiamissions.com, which will also be updated with news and photos during the course of the mission.

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