DIC Boosts Production Capacity for Large Degassing Modules for Water Treatment by 1.5 times —Responding to rapidly increasing demand for production of ultrapure water—

  • Management & IR
  • News Release
Feb. 21, 2020

Tokyo, Japan—DIC Corporation announced today that it has reinforced production equipment at DIC Group company DIC Kako, Inc.’s Ichihara Plant to expand its production capacity for large degassing modules—used for water treatment, among others—in the SEPAREL® series of hollow-fiber membrane modules for controlling fluid degasification and aeration. Total investment in this project, which has boosted production capacity for these modules by 1.5 times, was approximately ¥1.6 billion.

DIC’s large degassing modules, which are used for removing dissolved gases from water, are approximately 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) in diameter. Passing water through a membrane of bundled hollow fibers removes dissolved impurities such as nitrogen and oxygen, thereby increasing the purity of the water. Principal customers include manufacturers of ultrapure water production systems used in the fabrication of semiconductors, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and electronics components. According to research by Fuji Keizai Co., Ltd., the market for large degassing modules in 2021 is expected to be 2.3 times larger than it was in 2017, with expansion driven by brisk investment in semiconductor and LCD fabrication equipment, as well as by efforts to promote the replacement of vacuum degassing towers, previously the most common degasification device. Thanks to this increase in production capacity, DIC expects sales of hollow-fiber membrane modules in fiscal year 2021 to reach ¥7.0 billion, up 1.7 times from fiscal year 2019.

Guided by its DIC111 medium-term management plan, the DIC Group is working to provide environment-friendly, high-performance offerings with the aim of both contributing to society and achieving growth. Going forward, the Group will continue to supply highly functional products that meet the needs of customers in the market for hollow-fiber membrane modules, thereby broadening the scale of this key business.

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For detailed product information about DIC’s hollow-fiber membranes and membrane modules, visit the SEPAREL® website.