Asahi Kasei Life Science to Build New Spinning Plant for Virus Removal Filters

Asahi Kasei Life Science will construct a new spinning plant for its Planova virus removal filters in Nobeoka City, Miyazaki, Japan.

The new facility will be the company’s fourth spinning plant for hollow-fiber cellulose membrane filters. Construction is scheduled to begin in July 2026, with operations starting in January 2030. The initiative, backed by a grant from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), aligns with Asahi Kasei’s medium-term management plan “Trailblaze Together,” which positions the Life Science business as a key driver of future growth.

The new plant will significantly expand the company’s production capacity in response to the accelerating global demand for virus removal filters, which are essential in manufacturing biologics. The plant will focus on producing Planova filters, including S20N, 15N, 20N, 35N, and 75N.

“This new plant reinforces the momentum behind our newly established Life Science business,” said Yusuke Kanazawa, Head of the Bioprocess Division at Asahi Kasei Life Science Corporation. “It demonstrates Asahi Kasei’s commitment to making strategic investments while responding to rising global demand for virus filtration.”