Formosa Plastics Teams Up with Kuraray + Breakthrough in Key Technology!

Recently, Formosa Plastics Group has made significant announcements in two key areas: Nan Ya Plastics has partnered with Kuraray Trading of Japan to unveil innovative functional fibers at the 2025 Taipei Textile Exhibition (TITAS), while Formosa New Intelligent has collaborated with the Industrial Technology Research Institute to successfully overcome challenges in dry electrode technology for lithium batteries.

Textile Field: Partnering with Kolon Industries for a Dual Pursuit of Functionality and Sustainability

On October 14th, at the Taipei Textile Show, which focused on the three themes of "Sustainable Environment, Functional Application, and Smart Manufacturing," the joint debut of Nan Ya Plastics and Japan's Kuraray Trading became the highlight of the event. This collaboration can be described as a "strong alliance"—Nan Ya, as a global leader in high-performance polyester fibers, holds nearly a 50% market share in Japan and possesses vertically integrated capabilities across the entire industry chain from raw materials to weaving. Kuraray Trading, with over 60 years of market experience, serves as a core bridge connecting the group to global markets.

The four innovative products exhibited this time perfectly exemplify the fusion of "functional upgrades + low-carbon manufacturing."

Easy-opening microfiber: achieves fiber opening without the need for reduction or sanding processes, paired with 100% recycled materials, achieving a dual carbon reduction in both process and materials. After fiber opening, the fabric's softness and stain removal capability are significantly enhanced.

Lightweight quick-drying deep-dyeing fibers: Achieve lightweight and deep-dyeing effects through micropore design on the yarn surface, with the addition of moisture-wicking function to further expand the application scenarios of sports and casual wear.

Lightweight quick-drying hydrophobic fibers: Featuring both lightweight and hydrophobic properties, they can be interwoven with PET and are compatible with subsequent processes such as coloring and shaping, with the hydrophobic effect remaining stable even after multiple washes.

Anti-perspiration/Anti-transparency fiber: solves the issues of transparency and sweat stains in lightweight and light-colored fabrics, providing an ideal material for spring and summer clothing and light-colored shirt designs.

The self-owned star product showcased simultaneously in South Asia is equally impressive: the world's first Bluesign certified Chromuch® water-saving dyeing pre-colored silk, which saves 78% carbon emissions and 97% water resources compared to traditional dyeing processes. Its patented color-locking technology has successfully penetrated the functional workwear market, meeting the high visibility fluorescent color standards.

Nyudex® TPEE, a new type of thermoplastic elastomer, offers an environmentally friendly alternative to Spandex with its solvent-free processing and easy recyclability. The debut of printed fabric further enhances its visual appeal.

This joint exhibition not only represents a deep integration of Taiwan and Japan's technological capabilities but also showcases a new paradigm of vertical supply chain integration to 35,000 global buyers, injecting Formosa Plastics' strength into an estimated $47 million in business opportunities from the exhibition.

New Energy Sector: Dry Electrode Technology, Breaking Through Battery Manufacturing Bottlenecks

On October 16, Formosa Plastics New Intelligence and the Industrial Technology Research Institute attracted attention once again with their technological breakthrough—they successfully developed dry electrode technology for lithium batteries, laying a critical foundation for the self-sufficiency of Taiwan's new energy industry. Formosa Plastics New Intelligence Chairman Wang Ruiyu emphasized that this technology holds significant strategic importance as global battery giants compete to establish their positions.

Compared to mainstream wet processes, dry electrode technology is a "revolutionary breakthrough": traditional wet methods require cumbersome steps such as slurry mixing, coating, drying, and solvent recovery, with the drying and solvent recovery stages of lithium iron batteries accounting for 40% to 50% of total energy consumption; whereas the dry process only requires mixing the active material, binder, and conductive agent, followed by high-pressure rolling to form a functional film, with no solvents involved throughout the process.

This innovation brings multiple advantages: it significantly reduces energy consumption by eliminating high-energy-consuming processes, eliminates the use of toxic solvents to better meet environmental requirements, and also reduces equipment investment and labor requirements, resulting in an overall cost reduction of approximately 18% in battery cell manufacturing.

The deeper value lies in the forward-looking nature of the technology—dry electrodes are the core key to the commercialization of all-solid-state batteries. The stable electrode structure they form can significantly enhance battery energy density and manufacturing efficiency. Liu Huiqi, General Manager of Formosa New Intelligence, pointed out that this technology can cover the manufacturing of both cathode and anode materials and is widely applicable in fields such as electric vehicle batteries, energy storage devices, and portable electronics. It will accelerate the upgrade of Taiwan's new energy industry chain.