April 5, 2007
Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.

Newly developed product compatible with all types of optical sheets

The Industrial Tape Division of the High Performance Plastics Company of Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. ("Sekisui Chemical"; President and Representative Director: Naotake Okubo) is in the process of expanding its business through the development of a wide range of polyethylene-based surface protective film for optical sheets.
These products boast a number of outstanding features such as environmental-friendliness through non-use of solvents and extremely low levels of contamination or residue on the adherend ensured by the multi-layer co-extrusion manufacturing process. To meet the rapidly expanding market and heightening quality requirements, we have added the new lines detailed below and expanded our product line-up. In doing so, it is our aim both to stabilize supply and to achieve business expansion.

1. Market Background

Currently, various sheets with all kinds of optical characteristics are in use for liquid crystal displays and flat-panel displays (FPD) and surface protective films are used to maintain optical sheet performance during manufacturing, transportation, processing and other processes. The recent dramatic increase in FPD production volume has led to an ongoing increase in the demand for surface protective film.

2. Increase in Manufacturing Capacity of Surface Protective Film for Optical Sheets

The FPD market is expected to continue growing, and with the aim to improve product supply to customers, Sekisui Chemical added this new line to the Musashi Factory (Hasuda-shi, Saitama Prefecture), the central factory for manufacture of this product group, with production launch scheduled to be in July this year. This will result in a 50% increase in manufacturing capacity for surface protective film for optical sheets. A total of 2 billion yen has been invested for the line expansion.

3. Sekisui Surface Protective Film for Optical Sheets

Over a span of more than 30 years, Sekisui Chemical has matched customer needs through its multi-layer co-extrusion manufacturing process and its materials, surface condition and processing methods and has developed and manufactured protective film that features low levels of residue on the adherend.
In 2004, Sekisui Chemical launched a unique line featuring a clean environment with low levels of contaminants exclusively for optical sheets and is currently supplying a wide range of products to the FPD market. The principal features of Sekisui Chemical's surface protective film for optical sheets are listed below.

1) Low Levels of Contamination

The co-extrusion manufacturing process ensures extremely low levels of residue on the adherend. The low-impurity compounding process ensures extremely low levels of contamination.

2) Extensive Product Line-up

In addition to optical sheet types, materials, surface conditions and processing methods, Sekisui Chemical offers a wide range of products.

3) High Standards of Cleanliness

The clean room manufacturing ensures the elimination of contaminants from external sources and on the film itself and the reduction of damage to the material such as micro-scratches and indentations.

4) Environmental Friendliness

These products offer high levels of environmental friendliness through features such as the non-use of solvents and ease of recycling.

4. Development of New Protective Film Products for Optical Sheets

In addition to our existing product line-up, Sekisui Chemical has developed new, clean, strong-adhesive type products that can handle surface conditions that cause inadequate adhesion such as unevenness. Applying its unique adhesion-control and forming technology with the aim of meeting the various needs of its customers, Sekisui Chemical has released new products that match with the adherents that the existing co-extrusion method could not handle.

5. Concerning Exhibitions, etc.

The new surface protective film for optical sheets was introduced at the 17th FINETECH JAPAN trade show held at Tokyo Big Sight on April 11-13.
Also exhibited at the show were products such as low-smell/ultra-low VOC double-faced tape LSV (LSV) and other tapes for electrical and electronic parts and materials. LSV is used for fixing of vehicle interior parts and has been marketed in a form that meets the requirements of VOC13 substances reduction standard in the automotive industry. In the future, product is scheduled to be developed to meet the environmental, safety and comfort-related needs for a wide-range of applications as a double-faced tape for use both in an out of the automotive industry.
Sekisui Chemical's new surface protective film for optical sheets and LSV will be developed as products to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the company.