TOKYO (Dec. 11)—Zeon Corp. has resumed operations at its synthetic rubber plants in Tokuyama and Mizushima, Japan, following a two-week shutdown in the wake of an investigation into safety standards by Japanese government authorities. Japan´s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry discovered in late November that plant safety checks had not been carried out to industry standards and revoked Zeon´s authorization to carry out inspections at the two plants.
The Tokuyama plant produces SBR, polybutadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, styrene-butadiene latex and polybutadiene latex. The Mizushima site includes butadiene and isoprene monomer extraction facilities, as well as production units for various polymers, including iosoprene rubber and thermoplastic elastomer SIS.