Tokyo (SCCIJ) – Mitsubishi Chemical has purchased two Swiss engineering plastics recyclers, bringing the supply of these recycled resins in-house. The Japanese chemical giant described the acquisition of the Minger Group as part of its plan to implement a variety of sustainability initiatives by 2030. The Minger Group consists of Minger Kunststofftechnik AG and Minger Plastic AG, both located in Appenzell.
Since 2018, the Minger family business located in Appenzell/Switzerland ensures the highest material purity with an inspection and sorting system from Sikora (© Minger)
Recycling up to date
The two enterprises collect engineering plastic waste and manufacture recycled engineering plastics products that are good-as-new and homogenous. More specifically, it offers the regranulation of all conventional thermoplastics, from production scrap, sprues, or molded parts as well as from ground material. The Swiss experts also handle materials that are difficult to compound, such as foils or plastics containing fibers.
“In processing fluoroplastics, we are among the world’s best,” the Minger group says on its website. If necessary, the two Swiss enterprises homogenize the material to achieve uniform processing parameters. On request, they also compound various additives as part of the regranulation according to production requirements. With 26 employees, the group had net sales of 9.3 million Euro (1.1 billion yen).
No stock acquisition
Mitsubishi received the manufacturing facilities and other assets in Switzerland, along with trade rights and all other rights and obligations. The acquisition will allow the purchaser from Japan to establish an integrated business model for engineering plastics, from manufacturing to sales, machining, collection, and reuse. The transaction closed by the end of February.
Going forward, Mitsubishi wants to further strengthen its capability to propose solutions to users as a leader in the engineering plastics industry. It will contribute to the realization of a recycling-based society. Based on the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group’s Kaiteki Vision, Mitsubishi Chemical makes the circular economy a key element in its recognition of Kaiteki, and plastics recycling is an essential initiative within this basic policy.
Vision of sustainability
The Kaiteki concept refers to “the sustainable well-being of people, society, and our planet Earth.” An original concept coined by the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group, this vision points to a way forward in the sustainable development of society and the planet in addition to serving as a guide for solving environmental and social issues.
Mitsubishi Chemical Group Holdings even created a management method called Kaiteki based on three axes. First, the management of economics to increase economic value by focusing on capital efficiency. Second, the management of technology to foster innovation that leads to higher economic and social value. Third, the management of sustainability to enhance social value through improvements in sustainability.
Text: SCCIJ with material of Mitsubishi Chemical and Minger Group; Photo: © Minger
