Ionics, Incorporated announced that it has joined Toray Industries, Inc. and Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc., in forming Toray Membrane America, Inc. (TMA). TMA will manufacture and market reverse osmosis (RO) membrane modules for the desalination of seawater and brackish water.
Ionics is a global separations technology company involved in the manufacture and sale of membranes, equipment and own and operate services for the purification, disinfection, concentration, treatment and analysis of water, wastewater and ultrapure water. It will hold a 43 percent interest in the joint venture company.
Ionics will lease manufacturing space to TMA and will sell TMA its existing production lines for the manufacture of RO membrane modules. TMA will modify the production lines to incorporate Toray's proprietary RO manufacturing technology. The TMA modules produced in the Watertown facility will be sold in North and South America and the Caribbean.
Commenting on the establishment of TMA, Arthur L. Goldstein, Ionics' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Ionics is particularly pleased to be joining with Toray, a world leader in RO membrane technology, and Mitsui USA in this exciting venture. TMA will provide Ionics with a readily available source of high quality RO membranes for the rapidly growing seawater desalination market."
According to Noriyuki Koguchi, head of Toray's Water Treatment Division, "One of the key strategic initiatives for Toray in the 21st century is the application of RO membrane technology for the growing areas of seawater and brackish water desalination and we are pleased to be cooperating with Ionics, a world leader in water desalination. The joint venture between Toray, Ionics and Mitsui USA will allow Toray to further strengthen its water treatment business on a global basis."
Takao Sunami, Executive Vice President of Mitsui USA said, "Mitsui USA has over 15 years experience in seawater desalination projects in the Caribbean. As a TMA partner, we intend to aggressively pursue market opportunities with TMA throughout North and South America."
SOURCE: Ionics, Incorporated
