Source: Factory statistics of Department of Commerce and Industry, Japan.
Estimates from other sources of Japanese productions of tar-acid resins indicate an output of 2,600,000 pounds of resin and 3,600,000 pounds of molded resin articles in 1933, and of 4,900,000 pounds of resin and 7,500,000 pounds of resin articles in 1935.
It was recently announced that the Gosei Chemical Co. will manufacture vinyl resins in Japan. This firm’s principal interest is in acetate fiber and rayon manufacture. Later in 1936 the Showa Fertilizer Co. announced the successful development of a process for making urea. Urea resins are in commercial production by the Toyo Gosei Kagaku Kogyo K.K., an affiliate of Chugoku Toyo K.K.
The resin industry in Japan is expected to undergo considerable development in the near future. Raw materials are available in sufficient quantities and the art of molding is fairly well developed.
CANADA
The producers of synthetic resins in Canada are:
| Bakelite Corporation of Canada, Ltd. | Toronto. |
| Shawinigan Chemicals, Ltd. | Shawinigan Falls. |
| Canadian General Electric Co. | Toronto. |
| Canadian Industries, Ltd. | Toronto. |
The Bakelite Corporation of Canada, Ltd., an affiliate of the firm of the same name in the United States, was formed in 1925. This plant makes molding materials, laminating materials, and an extensive line of technical varnishes. Molded parts were made at this factory until 1932.
Shawinigan Chemicals, Ltd. is the pioneer organic chemical maker in Canada. A modern plant at Shawinigan Falls, Quebec, produces synthetic acetic acid, acetaldehyde, vinyl acetate, vinyl resins, and other chemicals. The vinyl resins manufactured by this firm have already been described (see p. [44]). Appreciable quantities of these resins have been exported to the United States in the past but the construction of a factory (jointly owned by Shawinigan Chemicals, Ltd., and the Fiberloid Corporation) at Indian Orchard, Mass., for the manufacture of vinyl resins will probably result in a decrease of exports from Canada to the United States.
The Canadian General Electric Co. makes alkyd resins for use in surface coatings. Phthalic anhydride and other raw materials are imported from the United States. Canadian Industries, Ltd., produces alkyd resins at a plant in Toronto, Ontario.