September 12, 2005
Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.

Release of "MUTELAYER ML" (development name)
high-performance noise insulating foam product for automotives
– Lightweight noise insulation material capable of diverse and complex molds –

In April 2006, Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. (President: Naotake Okubo) and the Foam and Functional Materials Division of the High Performance Plastics Company (President: Takayoshi Matsunaga) will launch sales of "MUTELAYER ML" - a high-performance noise insulating foam product for automotives, that features excellent noise insulation, lightweight, and molding/processing property.

The name "MUTELAYER ML" is a word that has been coined to combine the notions of "mute", "layer", "moldability" (M), and "light" (L).

1. Automotive operations at Sekisui Chemical
   The topics of "improvements to safety", "greater comfort", and "reduction of environmental burdens" can be cited as major themes for the automotive equipments industry. At Sekisui Chemical, we supply a diverse range of product groups to meet these industry needs, including "interior trim product" and "interlayer films for laminated glass in automotives". In terms of our accomplishments, we currently hold about a 47% share of the world market for interior foam products, and about a 40% share of the world market for interlayer films for laminated glass in automobiles.
   
   
2. Functional materials operations
   Our Foam & Functional Materials Division manufactures and sells a diverse range of product groups, with a special focus on "Softlon^®" - the world's first cross-linked polyethylene foam which we developed in 1965. Our net sales for fiscal year 2004 were 39.0 billion yen (of which automotive-related sales accounted for 10.0 billion yen, and other sales 29.0 billion yen), and we held a 47% share in the world market. In terms of production bases, we have 12 plants in Japan, Korea, China, the U.S., the U.K., the Netherlands, Thailand, and Australia; and in terms of distribution bases, excluding Africa, we have 25 bases throughout the world.
   
   Our medium term strategies are as follows.
   

   [Functional Materials Division Medium Term Objectives] Domain strategies: Expansion in promising markets, especially in automotive and IT applications Area strategies: In addition to Europe, Asia and the U.S., enhancement of distribution bases targeting the BRICS markets R&D strategies: Acceleration of high-performance, targeting the cultivation of new markets [Functional Materials Division 2010 targets] Net Sales: 55.0 billion yen (40% increase on FY 2004) World market share: 55%

   
   
3. Overview of the new MUTELAYER ML
   MUTELAYER ML is a high-performance noise insulating foam product that combines the superior properties of noise insulation, lightweight, and moldability. Sekisui Chemical was the first in the world to develop this foam product. As well as being a cross-linked polyethylene foam which can be used as an interior foam product around doors and ceilings in automotives, it is a material that includes a special filling agent.
   
   As a result of achieving a high level of noise insulation, MUTELAYER ML can be used in areas that need to be soundproofed, such as around the engine chamber or the motor in automobiles. Compared to the soundproof rubber sheet, one of our existing noise insulation materials, MUTELAYER ML is lightweight and possesses greater molding and processing capabilities, and so has wider applications.
   

• Features of MUTELAYER ML
  
  1. Excellent noise insulation properties
     MUTELAYER ML is a material that combines a special filling agent with a cross-linked foam polyethylene. It is approximately four times more noise-insulating than the conventional cross-linked polyethylene foam. It has achieved a noise insulation capability on par with soundproof rubber sheets, which are currently used as noise insulation in automobiles.
     
     
  2. Excellent light weight properties
     One of the features of MUTELAYER ML is its lightness which is only possible with cross-linked foam polyethylene. Compared with soundproof rubber sheets, which have equivalent noise insulation properties, MUTELAYER ML has achieved about a 45% reduction in weight.
     
     
  3. Excellent molding and processing properties
     MUTELAYER ML makes complex and diverse molding and processing possible. It can also be applied to areas in other automotive partsthat have proved difficult to insulate the noise. MUTELAYER ML also makes possible secondary fabrication, such as vacuum molding, press molding, and lamination.
     
     
• MUTELAYER ML sales target: FY 2007 Net Sales: 2.0 billion yen
  
  
• Production bases: Japan, the Netherlands