On January 26, 2016, an 11-member Saudi Arabian mission of government officials visited the Ehime Plant. The Toray Group had established the Toray Membrane Middle East LLC (TMME), a water treatment company, in Saudi Arabia in November 2014, and the mission's visit was facilitated in response to a request from the Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME).
The visit was structured so that the officials in the mission would get an actual feel of the initiatives by Toray. The day started off with a welcome address by Shinya Yonemura, General Manager of Ehime Plant, which was followed by an introduction to Toray's water treatment membrane technology and business activities by the RO Membrane Products Dept., and a plant tour by the Membrane Production Dept., which produces the ROMEMBRA™ reverse-osmosis (RO) membrane elements, being successfully used in desalination and sewage wastewater reuse in the Middle East and elsewhere.
The party showed great interest in the workings of the Ehime Plant, which is the mother plant for advanced technology products including water treatment membranes and carbon fiber, and showed special attention for the ROMEMBRA™ assembly plant, a plant similar to which is being operated by TMME. The event helped to further burnish the trust of the Saudi Arabian officials in Toray products and technology.
The visit enabled us to gain confidence in further success of water treatment membranes in Saudi Arabia, and all involved parties pledged to work for the next leap forward.
