Karun Petrochemical Company in Khuzestan Province has made Iran self-sufficient in producing polyurethane foam, the raw material used in car seats.
In a ceremony to unveil the new product, named KCS-20, on Tuesday, the managing director of SAIPA Yadak Company (SAIPA After-Sales Services Organization) said 40 tons of the material have already been transformed into finished products by SAIPA Azin Company.
“The use of this domestically produced material has prevented the outflow of foreign currency from the country,” Saeed Alizadeh was also quoted as saying by the Oil Ministry’s news service Shana.
SAIPA Yadak Company was established in 1992 to supply spare parts and offer after-sales services to the customers of SAIPA, a major automaker company in Iran.
While polyurethane foam is a lightweight material, around 10-15 kg of it are used to produce a vehicle's seats.
Polyurethane foams are produced by reacting polyols and diisocyanates, both products often derived from crude oil. The main diisocynate used in the production of flexible polyurethane foam is TDI (toluene diisocyanate).
The advantages of polyurethane foam for car seats include comfort, durability, design flexibility and easy disposal after the end of the product lifecycle, a member of the Board of Directors of SAIPA Company said.
“About 6 million tons of polyurethane foam are produced globally every year, and 10-15% of this foam are used in the automotive industry for making car seats. Although polyurethane is widely used in industries, 67% of it are used in foam production,” Mehdi Pazouki was also quoted as saying by Shana.
“So far, Iran has annually imported 200,000 tons of polyurethane foam worth $440 million. With the indigenization of the product, the country's demand for the raw material will be met domestically,” he added.
Value Chain
Karun Petrochemical Company is the first producer of isocyanates, including TDI and MDI, and a completer of the value chain of polyurethanes in the Middle East and West Asia.
Its products are generally used in the polyurethane industry, including the production of various types of foams for furniture, office and home chairs, as well as car seats.
Companies in Iraq, Turkey, India, Russia, Azerbaijan, Albania, Greece, Sweden, Peru, Kenya, Nigeria and Italy are the main foreign clients of KPC. The company uses chlorine, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, toluene and nitric acid as raw material to produce basic petrochemicals and final products with higher value added.
Polyurethane foam is a popular material used in a wide range of products, including furniture, bedding and automotive components. It is made from polyurethane, a type of polymer that can be flexible or rigid depending on how it is formulated. Polyurethane foam is known for its durability, comfort and versatility.
Iran has been working to increase its self-sufficiency in various industries, including petrochemicals and automotive manufacturing. This has involved developing domestic capabilities for producing raw materials and components, as well as promoting local manufacturing and reducing reliance on imports.
