Kaneka Completes Construction of Medical Device Plant in Hokkaido

－ Tomatoh Manufacturing Site, the First New Domestic Business Location in 54 Years －

Kaneka Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Kazuhiko Fujii) (TOKYO:4118) opened its Tomatoh Manufacturing Site in the Tomakomai Tobu Area of Hokkaido for the purpose of portfolio transformation and business expansion and held the opening ceremony on August 26. The Tomatoh Manufacturing Site is the seventh domestic business location^*1 for the company and the first new one in 54 years.

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Tomatoh Manufacturing Site (Photo: Business Wire)

The medical device plant^*2 completed at Tomatoh Manufacturing Site will produce adsorption type blood purification devices "Rheocarna™" and adsorption type plasma purification devices "Liposorber™". The number of patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO)^*3, which these medical devices are intended to treat, is on the rise worldwide, along with increases in diabetes, chronic renal failure, and other conditions. By securing the supply base through the new plant, we will dramatically expand our medical business to meet global demand.

The plant has achieved full automation of its production lines as a "smart factory" utilizing robot technology and plans to realize a "zero energy factory" that will reduce the primary energy consumption of the factory building to zero by using our photovoltaic modules, thereby promoting sustainable manufacturing.

In the future, Tomatoh Manufacturing Site will be actively utilized as a new production base for each business, as well as for further expansion of the medical business.

Based on our mission of "KANEKA thinks 'Wellness First'.", we will realize a world where advanced medical care is accessible to everyone and where science contributes to the innovation of the global environment and our daily lives. From Tomakomai, "Kaneka, the Dream Factory" will make this vision a reality.

Participants at the opening ceremony (From the left):

Yoshiro Aikawa, President of Taisei Corporation

Jun Kimura, Deputy Mayor of Tomakomai-city

Naomichi Suzuki, Governor of Hokkaido

Kimikazu Sugawara, Chairman of Kaneka Corporation

Kazuhiko Fujii, President of Kaneka Corporation

Shigenobu Sano, Senior Executive Director of Tomatoh Co., Ltd.

*1. Domestic business locations: Takasago Manufacturing Site, Osaka Manufacturing Site, Shiga Manufacturing Site, Kashima Manufacturing Site, Tomatoh Manufacturing Site, Tokyo Head Office, Osaka Head Office

*2. News Release January 23, 2022

Kaneka to Construct New Medical Device Plant in Hokkaido - Roughly 10 billion yen investment aimed at expanding global business -

https://www.kaneka.co.jp/en/topics/news/2022/ennr2201241.html

*3. A disease that causes arteriosclerosis where stenosis and occlusion of lower limbs artery occurred, leading to impaired blood flow (ischemia). In the early stages, it causes coldness, numbness, and gait disturbance. When the disease progresses to critical limb ischemia with pain and ulceration, the risk of leg amputation and death increases.

About Tomatoh Manufacturing Site

Company Name: Kaneka Corporation Tomatoh Manufacturing Site

Completed: August 26, 2024

Location: 6-253 Kashiwabara, Tomakomai-city, Hokkaido

Business Description: Production of medical devices

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240829240050/en/