Japanese chemicals and materials manufacturer Asahi Kasei’s (Tokyo; www.asahi-kasei.co.jp) regional headquarters in North America has opened an office in Novi, Michigan / USA, near Detroit. The site is to strengthen marketing activities mainly for the North American automotive industry.

The Japanese company manufactures engineering thermoplastic materials, battery separators and electronic components for car interiors and provides technical support to customers. Many of its products have been adopted by major automotive OEMs and tier 1 manufacturers in the region. “This is the next chapter in our automotive growth plan in North America,” said John Moyer, chief strategic officer of Asahi Kasei America and senior executive officer of Asahi Kasei. The group notes that there are many other growth fields in the region in addition to mobility.