Asahi Kasei
Canvas Category OEM : Chemical
The Asahi Kasei Group is a diversified manufacturer centered on chemistry, founded in 1922 with the purpose of “improving people’s standard of living by supplying an abundance of the highest-quality daily necessities at the lowest prices.” The history of the Asahi Kasei Group is rooted in Japan’s first ammonia production by chemical synthesis, using hydroelectric power, which formed the basis for our synthetic chemicals and chemical fibers businesses. Since then, we have continued to proactively diversify and adapt our operating portfolio in accordance with changes in the economy, changes in society, and changes in the environment.
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Ionomr Innovations closes USD$20M Series A-4 Financing with broad industry participation
Ionomr Innovations Inc., developer and manufacturer of breakthrough, foundational polymer and membrane technologies for next-generation hydrogen applications, has closed a US$20 million Series A-4 funding round with returning lead investors NGIF Cleantech Ventures and Pallasite Ventures supported by Shell Ventures, Chevron Technology Ventures and Finindus, and joined by N.V. Bekaert, Asahi Kasei, Samsung Ventures and SAIC Capital.
The funding will allow Ionomr to further scale its ion-exchange membranes and polymers, Aemion® and Pemion®, that are fundamental to accelerating the hydrogen economy – from production of H2 gas and chemicals through electrolysis to efficient use of hydrogen in fuel cells. Ionomr’s superior materials can make more efficient, cost-competitive solutions possible, including eliminating expensive precious metal requirements from hydrogen production, CO2 electrolysis and supporting higher-temperature fuel cell solutions.
AM Batteries Closes $30M Series B led by Toyota Ventures to Accelerate the Commercialization of its Dry Battery Electrode Technology
AM Batteries, a pioneer in the field of lithium-ion dry-electrode technologies, today announced it closed a $30M Series B in an oversubscribed funding round led by Toyota Ventures. New investment combines strategic corporate support from Porsche Ventures and Asahi Kasei, with financial investment from RA Capital Management - Planetary Health, Wilson Sonsini, and Industry Ventures. The round also includes existing investors such as Anzu Partners, TDK Ventures, Creative Ventures, Doral Energy-Tech Ventures, Foothill Ventures, and Zeon Ventures.
As more sustainability-focused gigafactories dot the world in places like Asia, Europe, and the United States, efficiencies in battery manufacturing are paramount. With strong commercial traction from tier-one battery producers, AMB’s funding from a robust set of strategic and financial investors will help the company develop and drive the commercialization of dry powder coating technology and equipment for low-cost lithium-ion battery manufacturing.
🖨️ Asahi Kasei invests in Israeli startup Castor Technologies
Asahi Kasei (TOKYO 3407) has decided to invest in Castor Technologies Ltd. (CASTOR), an Israeli startup specialized in the development of 3D printing software. In addition to utilizing CASTOR’s software and services, the investment will allow Asahi Kasei to pursue synergies between its CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) technical service for plastic products and CASTOR’s software.
Blockchain circular economy startup Circularise secures €11 million funding
At Circularise, founders Mesbah Sabuh and Nordi de Vos have spent the past six years commercialising a concept that was devised in their days at Delft University of Technology. With their digital product passport, Sabuh and de Vos aim to store all relevant materials data on blockchain, eliminating privacy and confidential risk that arises when sharing the information to third-parties.
In its series A round, Circularise has also won corporate support in the form of oil refiner-turned waste recycling specialist Neste, and also the Japanese conglomerate Asahi Kasei whose main dealings cover chemicals, plastics and materials science.