Zeon Corporation has officially broken ground on a major new production facility for Cyclo-Olefin Polymers (COP), a strategic move set to increase the company’s annual COP capacity by approximately 30% when the plant comes online in the first half of fiscal 2028.
The new facility, to be built at Zeon’s business site in Yuka Town, Shunan City, will be named the Tokuyama East Plant. Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2026, marking a significant expansion of Zeon’s advanced materials footprint in the Shunan area.
The plant will respond to surging global demand for COP — a high-performance plastic increasingly used in medical devices, semiconductor applications, and precision optical components.
A groundbreaking ceremony held on February 18 drew 63 attendees, including representatives from Yamaguchi Prefecture, Shunan City, local community leaders, construction partners, and Zeon executives. Among them were President and CEO Tetsuya Toyoshima and Tokuyama Plant Manager Akira Honma, who joined in prayers for a safe and successful construction project.
At a press conference following the ceremony, President Toyoshima underscored the significance of the milestone.
“Meeting the robust demand for COP has been a long-held dream, so it is deeply moving to begin construction in such an optimal location. We intend to further expand our operations in the Shunan area, including this plant, and continue to meet society's expectations by providing our proprietary materials.”
COP — marketed under the product names ZEONEX and ZEONOR — is a highly transparent plastic developed independently by Zeon. Known for its advanced optical performance, low water absorption, and exceptional purity, the material has long been used in films and lenses. Now, demand is accelerating across medical fields — including syringes and cell culture plates — and in semiconductor transfer containers, driving sustained growth.
The Tokuyama East Plant will become Zeon’s second COP production base, joining its Mizushima Plant in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. By establishing multiple production hubs, the company aims to strengthen supply stability while scaling output.
The expansion aligns with Phase 3 of Zeon’s STAGE30 medium-term management plan (FY2025–2028), which prioritizes growth in four strategic sectors: Mobility, Healthcare and Life Science, Telecommunications, and GX. COP is positioned as a central growth driver within that strategy.
With construction now underway, Zeon is betting that advanced materials innovation — and the rapidly expanding medical and semiconductor markets — will power its next phase of growth.
