Spiber (Thailand) Ltd Mass producing structural protein into a unique sustainability solution

Established in November 2018, Spiber (Thailand) Ltd is part of the venture company Spiber Inc. founded in 2007 by Mr. Kazuhide Sekiyama and Mr. Junichi Sugahara in Tsuruoka, Japan. Creating protein material produced by microbial fermentation from plant-derived biomass, Spiber’s inspiration was the web that spiders built – a material made out of protein, strong, elastic, and also biodegradable.

“Spiber has developed technology to design the sequence of amino acids of protein freely according to the characteristics required for each application,” explained Mr. Keisuke Morita and Mr. Toshimasa Asai, directors of the Thai entity. This structural protein developed by the company, named Brewed Protein™, is environmentally-friendly and expected to be utilized in various industries.

Brewed Protein™ materials are produced through a fermentation process that utilizes microbes and plant-derived raw materials like sugars, rather than petrochemical, and also do not contain animal-derived materials. “The company mission is to make a contribution towards a sustainable society,” said the directors. 

It has garnered significant attention, particularly from the apparel industry, and has procured growth capital and funds of over JPY 30 billion. A pilot plant was built at company headquarters in Japan and commercialization of the product is proceeding, with collaborative developments for outdoor wear that requires high quality and wearability.

In Thailand, Spiber purchased 100,000 sq.m. of industrial land at WHA Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate 1 (WHA ESIE 1) and will construct a mass production plant that will help reduce the cost of manufacturing Brewed Protein™.   

Production plants specialized in structural protein material are rare in the world, and Spiber’s plant is the first of its kind in Thailand.

Spiber’s factory is located at 70 meters above sea level and though close to Laem Chabang deep sea port, the site is fully prepared for flood disaster. Mr. Morita outlined how convenient the location is for business travelers, being situated near Suvarnabhumi International Airport. “The staff of the industrial estate is very friendly,” he continued, “and provides quick responses in a friendly manner, which makes all customers feel at ease. Our company is successfully establishing a production facility at the best location.”

Commercial production is expected to start in 2021, with initial plans to wholly export the protein to Japan for fiberization. In Thailand, Brewed Protein™ may be utilized in the automobile and other similar industries as Spiber will be spinning a wide web for its applications into the future.

Contact information:

Mr. Keisuke Morita & Mr. Toshimasa Asai
Directors, Spiber (Thailand) Ltd
02-260-8367
https://www.spiber.jp/en/