Construction of a major industrial plant costing hundreds of millions of pounds has begun on the Humber Bank, with a traditional ceremony acknowledging the company’s Japanese roots.
Mitsubishi Chemical 海角视频 is doubling the capacity of its Saltend plant, east of Hull, as it looks to meet demand for its shelf life-extending food packaging. SoarnaL is the company’s brand name of the grade of ethylene vinyl co-polymer it has produced in East Yorkshire since 2002.
The investment decision was made last August, and now spades are in the ground - while a ground-breaking ceremony was followed by the smashing of a barrel of sake, the Japanese liquor.
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Managing director, Peter des Forges, said it marked a new chapter for the company in Hull and represented a significant milestone following a huge amount of work behind the scenes.
He said: “This ceremonial and symbolic celebration is a public thank you for the hard work of our site project team and support of colleagues from the wider business. It also demonstrates our commitment to the area.
“Once the new line is operational, the majority of the increased production will service the needs of our customers in more than 40 countries who continue to explore ways they can reduce waste and meet environmental targets.”
He welcomed more than 40 guests, including project members, company officials and local councillors.
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The new line is expected to be operational by mid 2025 and will create at least 30 jobs, with more in the supply chain.
The innovative product, which is also used in the medical and agricultural sectors, mainly comprises carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, is colourless and odourless and acts as a barrier layer. It preserves flavour and freshness through use in items such as the protective film on ready meals, squeezy sauce bottles, baby food packaging and meat packaging. Other applications include cosmetic products such as cream and toothpaste tubes, plastic fuel tanks, animal feed and underfloor heating.
The business was formerly owned by fellow Japanese company Nippon Gohsei, with Hull being chosen as its location due to proximity to the ports and availability of raw materials from neighbouring businesses at the now PX Group-owned Saltend. Chemicals Park, then operated by BP. It became wholly owned by Mitsubishi Chemical Group in late 2016, changing its name two years ago.