ASPI Group Welcomes Fuji Chemical Industry Co. to ASPI Technology Park

MOSES LAKE, WA--(Marketwired - Sep 5, 2013) - Renton-based ASPI Group, Inc. has announced the newest industrial tenant for its ASPI Technology Park located at the Grant County International Airport Industrial area in Moses Lake, Washington. Japanese owned Fuji Chemical Industry Co, Ltd., through its bio-pharmaceutical U.S. subsidiary, Asta Real Technologies, Inc., has purchased a heavy industrial zoned, 10-acre site on Randolph Road. Construction has commenced on an approximate 50,000 sq.ft. first phase of the facility that will be operational in Q3 2014. Originally designated Project Jackson, the state of the art facility will produce Astaxanthin -- an anti-inflammatory agent. The $30+ million project will use photo-bioreactors to cultivate micro algae to produce the Astaxanthin. The facility will employ about 45 people initially with heavy emphasis in chemical engineering. Lydig Construction out of Spokane, Washington, is acting as the General Contractor on the construction. The company joins a long list of major Japanese industries at the Moses Lake complex including Inflation Systems (automotive airbags), US KDK Chemicon Materials (electrical capacitors) and Moses Lake Industries (chemicals). Japan Airlines trained 747 pilots at the massive airport there for 35 years. Other major industries include General Dynamics, Genie Industries, REC Silicon, and Boeing.

Jonathan Smith, Executive Director of the Grant County EDC, said, "The county's abundant water resources, competitive energy costs and a ready-to-build site were major reasons Fuji Chemical decided to build the plant in Moses Lake. A skilled labor force, an open culture welcoming to Japanese companies and supportive local and state governments were also factors in the company's decision. Representing one of the quickest projects from initial contact to start of construction, we would like to thank the ASPI Group for proactively preparing sites to meet the industrial growth in the region."

Takashi Doguchi, CEO of AstaReal Technologies, Inc., said, "We sincerely appreciate ASPI Group's support and advise for us to decide to invest and construct our new facility in Moses Lake. Your support and advice were very helpful and gave us confidence in our investment in an unfamiliar place."

Fuji Chemical Industry President and CEO, Mitsunori Nishida said, "We want to make people healthier and happier by delivering Astaxanthin raw materials for health foods to people across the world."

Andy Chen, President and CEO of the ASPI Group, said, "We welcome Fuji Chemical Industry and AstaReal Technologies to our ASPI Technology Park. Joining premier global companies like BMW, Fuji again confirms that the industrial infrastructure and manufacturing sites in Moses Lake, Washington, truly are 'world class.' We would like to thank the comprehensive response team on the project including the Department of Commerce, Grant County EDC, City of Moses Lake, and Grant County PUD. We wish AstaReal and Fuji great success!"