Asahi Kasei to Build Second Ceolus™ Microcrystalline Cellulose Plant

Asahi Kasei's Specialty Solutions SBU will build a second microcrystalline cellulose[1] (trade name Ceolus™) plant at its Mizushima plant in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, Japan .

Asahi Kasei currently produces Ceolus™ microcrystalline cellulose in Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, which is mainly used as a tablet binder in pharmaceuticals[2].

In addition to the standard product PH series, Ceolus™ also has the KG series that can greatly enhance the compressibility of tablets, and the UF series that can provide both compressibility and fluidity. These products provide solutions to various problems in the production of pharmaceutical and supplemental tablets.

By using the KG series, stable production of tablets can be achieved even when the amount of tablet binder that can be added is small, such as when a tablet contains a large amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) or multiple APIs are formulated in a single tablet.

The UF series enables the stable production of tablets and the uniformity of the API contained in the tablets, which requires the product to have good fluidity.

Demand for proprietary products in the KG and UF series has increased in recent years and is expected to grow further in the future. To meet this growing demand, Asahi Kasei has decided to double production capacity through capital expenditures and achieve stable supply through multiple production bases. This capacity expansion will enable Asahi Kasei to meet the needs of the pharmaceutical and supplement industries and contribute to the lives and livelihoods of people around the world.

[1] Microcrystalline cellulose is a white powder made from natural fruit pulp and is mainly used as an excipient in medicines and food

[2] Tablet binders are additives that give shape and bulk to solid tablets