Mitsubishi Chemical Group to make major UK investment

Mitsubishi Chemical UK is investing hundreds of millions of pounds at the Saltend Chemicals Park in Hull to create a new production line that will more than double capacity and create dozens of new jobs.A significant increase in turnover has been forecasted within a few years of the new plant becoming operational, with the majority of the SoarnoL produced being exported to more than 42 countries.

Peter des Forges, managing director of Mitsubishi Chemical UK, said: “The potential for this versatile product is phenomenal. Its production is low impact, it can be recycled with plastics, and it reduces food waste by keeping products fresher for longer. It was always the intention to increase capacity at our site, and the team in Hull working behind the scenes to ensure the plans got the green light are celebrating this fantastic news. We are now in our 20th year of manufacturing SoarnoL in Hull and this major investment secures our location in the city for years to come.”

SoarnoL, which mainly comprises carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, is colourless and odourless and used as a barrier layer in food packaging. It preserves flavour and freshness in items such as the protective film on ready meals, squeezy sauce bottles, baby food packaging and meat packaging. Other applications include cosmetic products such as cream and toothpaste tubes, plastic fuel tanks, animal feed and underfloor heating.

The business was formerly owned by Japanese company Nippon Gohsei, with Hull being chosen as its location due to proximity to the ports and availability of raw materials from neighbouring businesses at Saltend. It became wholly owned by Mitsubishi Chemical Group in November 2016 and changed its name to Mitsubishi Chemical UK Ltd in April 2021.

The company also has additional facilities in Hull which it opened in 2011 to create bespoke grades of SoarnoL