Ionics, Toray and Mitsui USA form Membrane Joint Venture

Ionics, Incorporated, Toray Industries, Inc. and Mitsui & Co., Inc., are joining together to form Toray Membrane America, Inc. (TMA), which will manufacture and market reverse osmosis (RO) membrane modules for the desalination of seawater and brackish water. Ionics will hold a 43% interest in the joint venture company.

According to the agreement, Ionics will lease manufacturing space to TMA and will sell TMA its existing production lines for the manufacture of RO membrane modules. The company will modify the production lines to incorporate Toray's proprietary RO manufacturing technology. The TMA modules produced in the Watertown, MA, facility will be sold in North and South America and the Caribbean.

Background information
Ionics, Incorporated 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.

Toray Industries, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of synthetic fibers and textiles with 199 subsidiaries and affiliated companies in 17 countries and areas around the world. The Toray Group's diversified businesses include fibers and textiles, plastics and chemicals, housing and engineering, pharmaceuticals and medical products, and new products and other businesses, including carbon fiber and electronics and information-related products.

Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc., headquartered in New York City, is the largest wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui & Co., Ltd, Tokyo, a leading world trading and investment company.

Edited by Tracy Fabre