Latest news with #AGCInc.
Business Wire
18-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
AGC Launches Innovative Fluoroelastomer Without the Use of Surfactants or Fluorinated Polymerization Solvents
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AGC (AGC Inc., Headquarters: Tokyo; President: Yoshinori Hirai)(TOKYO:5201), a world-leading manufacturer of glass, chemicals and other high-tech materials, proudly announces the launch of surfactant and fluorinated polymerization solvent free grades in its fluoroelastomer 'AFLAS™ FFKM' series; the SF grades (the 'Products'). The newly developed Products are manufactured entirely without the use of any surfactants *1 or fluorinated polymerization solvents *2. The Products offer high performance equivalent to that of conventional products, while meeting the growing market demand for fluoroelastomers that do not use surfactants or fluorinated polymerization solvents during the manufacturing process. This has been achieved through AGC's innovative, proprietary polymer manufacturing technology (Surfactant-Free & Fluoro Solvent-Free Technology, hereafter the 'Technology'). Initially, this Technology will be applied to the high-temperature-resistant type of FFKM fluoroelastomers and new grades will be added to the 'AFLAS™ FFKM' series for semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Commercial availability of this new grade begins this month. We are planning to extend the Technology to other types of FFKM fluoroelastomers and will progressively introduce those new types of Products as part of 'AFLAS™ FFKM' series. AGC Launches Innovative Fluoroelastomer Without the Use of Surfactants or Fluorinated Polymerization Solvents. Share The 'AFLAS™ FFKM' series is an industrial elastomer that offers one of the highest levels of resistance to chemicals, heat, and plasma among fluoroelastomers. Its outstanding properties make it exceptionally durable even in harsh environments such as semiconductor manufacturing, oil drilling, and healthcare. In particular, 'AFLAS™ FFKM' is recognized as an essential material in the etching process, one of the key steps in semiconductor manufacturing, due to its exceptional plasma resistance. Its resistance to degradation makes it an ideal sealing material for etching equipment, where it contributes to significantly extended maintenance intervals and enhanced operating safety. Previously, surfactants and fluorinated polymerization solvents were considered essential for manufacturing high performance fluoroelastomers, FFKM, due to their roles in enhancing the reactivity of fluorinated monomers and manufacturing efficiency. In recent years, however, customers' demand for products that do not use these substances during the manufacturing process have grown rapidly, particularly in the semiconductor industry. While various approaches without using surfactants or fluorinated polymerization solvents have been explored, achieving the high-performance requirements of FFKM was a significant challenge. To meet this market demand, AGC has successfully overcome this long-standing technical challenge and succeeded in mass-production of the Products by applying the new Technology, which does not require the use of any type of surfactants or fluorinated polymerization solvents, which has been developed by refining our unique polymerization technology cultivated over many years. Accordingly, AGC is now proud to introduce the Products as new addition to its AFLAS™ FFKM series. Under its corporate philosophy of 'Look Beyond', the AGC Group is committed to supporting the lives of people around the world through its unique materials and solutions. Going forward, we will continue to contribute to the realization of a safe, secure, and sustainable society through our high-performance, high-quality materials. REFERENCE Website of AFLAS™ FFKM series
Business Wire
26-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
AGC Biologics Expands Cell Therapy Development Operations to Asia to Serve Growing Market Need
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AGC Biologics, your friendly CDMO expert, will commence cell therapy process development and clinical manufacturing services on July 1, 2025, at AGC Inc.'s Yokohama Technical Center, marking the latest step in the global expansion of the company's Global Cell and Gene Technologies Division. The improved geographical footprint allows AGC Biologics to better serve customers requiring autologous and allogeneic products across all markets, with cell therapy manufacturing now available in three continents (Milan, Italy – Longmont, Colorado, U.S. – Yokohama, Japan). This new site precedes the opening of a new AGC Biologics Yokohama manufacturing facility on schedule to be operational in 2027 with pre-clinical through commercial services for mammalian-based protein biologics, cell therapies, and messenger RNA. The Yokohama location will provide process transfer and manufacturing services for pre-clinical and clinical trials to serve an expanding global cell therapy market. Its core technologies include induced pluripotent stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, and CAR-T cell therapies. AGC Biologics Cell and Gene Technology Center of Excellence in Milan, with its nine product approvals by the EMA and FDA, hundreds of batches manufactured, and 30-year track record, will support and enable the successful ramp up of operation in the new Yokohama site. 'In a cell and gene therapy market of high volatility and witnessing consolidation of CDMOs, AGC Biologics is among the few experiencing significant growth and success. We are now building on this success to complete the vision of having a truly global offering,' said Luca Alberici, Executive Vice President of Global Cell and Gene Technologies at AGC Biologics. 'Now Asian developers can benefit from having a local supply within one of the best global infrastructures on the market for cell therapy. Moreover, customers can continue to leverage the offering of viral vector central supply in our Milan facility, which supplies around a third of the ex vivo gene therapy product approved for commercialization. AGC Biologics, through its proprietary ProntoLVV and BravoAAV platforms, aims to offer viral vectors at a sustainable cost for its clients targeting less than 1,000€ per CAR-T patient.' 'Our team of friendly experts in Milan have a strong reputation for collaboration and working side-by-side with customers to achieve clinical, late-phase, and commercial successes,' said Jun Takami, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Japan Region and Yokohama Facility. 'As part of this next major phase for cell therapy in the region, our Yokohama team is ready to support partners in accelerating drug development timelines while maintaining the highest quality standards in the industry." AGC Biologics is a part of AGC Inc.'s Life Science Company. The Life Science company operates over 10 facilities worldwide focused on biopharmaceuticals, advanced therapies, small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients, and agrochemicals. The AGC Inc. Yokohama Technical Center, built in 2020, is dedicated to advancing AGC Inc.'s research and development capabilities in materials science, chemical processes, and biotechnology. Please visit to learn more about AGC Biologics' global network of services for protein biologics and cell and gene therapies. About AGC Biologics AGC Biologics is a leading global biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with a strong commitment to delivering the highest standard of service as we work side-by-side with our clients and partners, to provide friendly and expert services. We provide world-class development and manufacturing of mammalian and microbial-based therapeutic proteins, plasmid DNA (pDNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), viral vectors, and genetically engineered cells. Our global network spans the U.S., Europe, and Asia, with locations in Seattle, Washington; Boulder and Longmont, Colorado; Copenhagen, Denmark; Heidelberg, Germany; Milan, Italy; and Chiba and Yokohama, Japan. We currently employ more than 2,600 Team Members worldwide.
