November 28, 2024 – Sumitomo Chemical Transfers Groundbreaking Caprolactam Technology to HighChem
In a recent announcement, Sumitomo Chemical has revealed that it has formally transferred the intellectual property rights (IPR) of its proprietary gas-phase Beckmann rearrangement technology for caprolactam production to HighChem Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “HighChem”). The two parties have signed a formal agreement, marking a significant milestone in the disposition of Sumitomo Chemical’s technological assets.
HighChem will now take full ownership of the IPR and intends to license the technology globally, aiming to further propel its application and development. This move comes as Sumitomo Chemical decided to exit the caprolactam business in 2022, making the transfer a strategic disposal of its technological prowess.
So, what makes this technology so unique? According to industry sources, Sumitomo Chemical’s gas-phase Beckmann rearrangement technology leverages a clever combination of zeolite molecular sieves and fluidized beds, achieving an impressive 99.8% conversion rate of cyclohexanone oxime and a 96.9% selectivity for caprolactam. Notably, the entire production process does not generate ammonium sulfate as a by-product, conferring significant environmental and cost-control advantages. Sumitomo Chemical was also the first company in the world to achieve industrial-scale operation of the gas-phase process, highlighting its technological expertise.
The exit from the caprolactam business by Sumitomo Chemical has been a gradual process. In 2015, the company shut down its nearly five-decade-old liquid-phase caprolactam production line at the Ehime plant in Japan, which had an annual capacity of 95,000 tons. At that time, the company cited rising maintenance and repair costs as the reason for the line’s diminished cost competitiveness. By October 2022, Sumitomo Chemical had fully ceased operations of its 85,000-ton/year gas-phase caprolactam production unit at the Ehime plant, marking its complete exit from the caprolactam business. Furthermore, the company announced the closure of its 100,000-ton/year cyclohexanone production unit at the Ehime plant, which has been operational since 1973, by the end of March 2024, signaling a definitive departure from the sector. These actions underscore Sumitomo Chemical’s commitment and resolve in business adjustment and optimization.