Press Release (May 26, 2008) | SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.

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May 26, 2008
SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
SEKISUI HOMETECHNO Co., Ltd.

Launch of Bathtub-Lease Sales for Nursing Facilities
- Enables exchange of bathtubs in "Convertible Bathtub System Baths"
- Conversion to suit differing physical conditions easy and cheap

SEKISUI HOMETECHNO Co., Ltd. (President: Norio Kondo: Hereinafter referred to as SEKISUI HOMETECHNO), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD. (President: Naotake Okubo) is pleased to announce the launch through an affiliated lease company of bathtub-lease sales for "Convertible Bathtub System Baths" in nursing facilities from June 2.

The product is a system bath designed for "individual bathing" in shared areas of nursing facilities or leased housing for the elderly and features "convertibility," Sekisui's original concept that enables changes to the layout of the bathtub to suit the physical condition of the person taking the bath. Additionally, the main body of the system (hereinafter referred to as "the skeleton") and the bathtub and the peripheral material (hereinafter referred to as "the in-fill") are separate, making it possible to configure three types of bathtub using the same skeleton (FRP convertible bathtub, Japanese-cypress bathtub, and compact mechanical bathtub). The launch of in-fill lease sales is intended to provide an even greater degree of response to customer needs by enabling convertibility of bathtubs suitable for the user.

1. Market Background and Aims

The spread of unit care* in nursing facilities in pay homes or leased housing for the elderly has led to an increase in "individual baths" making use of system baths in preference to existing community baths. However, increasing age tends to produce deterioration in the physical condition of residents and it is foreseen that this will lead to estrangement of functionality from nursing care levels in bathing facilities planned and designed for new structures or extensions and structural alterations of buildings. Such cases present the risk of problems relating to the operation of facilities such as responses with a bias toward alterations to existing facilities and manpower, additional investment and increased burden on caregivers.

The current bathtub-lease sales will make it possible to convert bathing facilities to suit the physical conditions of residents with relative ease and at comparatively low cost.

*	Unit care: Division of residents' rooms into a number of groups to enable the provision of care of small numbers of residents in a familial atmosphere.

2. Overview of Bathtub-Lease Sales

Under the bathtub-lease sales system, leases for in-fill and skeletons will be sold separately. Skeletons will be sold as a one-off construction while in-fill will be leased to facility directors or managers through an affiliated company (duration of lease: 5 years).

♦

Benefits for the Customer

(1)	At the end of the lease, the customer may elect to exchange the bathtub for a unit matching current needs or for the latest model.
(2)	It is envisaged that exchange of the bathtub for a unit meeting the nursing care level of the users will ease the burden on staff.
(3)	The system will make it possible to control construction costs and to decrease initial investment costs.
(4)	Sundry expenses when the bathtub is exchanged such as product and construction costs will be eliminated.

♦

Example of Use of Bathtub Lease

When the facility is opened:	FRP bathtub or Japanese-cypress bathtub (In cases where nursing care levels for residents are low, bathing utilizing remaining functions is possible.)
6th year:	Exchange for a compact mechanical bathtub (In cases where the physical condition of residents has deteriorated, bathing using an elevator seat is possible)

3. Leased Products

Leased products:

System 2024 II and 2020 IV for nursing care/autonomous-support bathrooms

Leased components:

(1)	Bathtub:	FRP bathtub (SEKISUI HOMETECHNO original) Japanese-cypress bathtub (HINOKI SOKEN CO., LTD. product made to SEKISUI HOMETECHNO specifications) Compact mechanical bathtub (SAKAI Medical Co., Ltd., Pansy II)
(2)	Transfer stand (SEKISUI HOMETECHNO original and manufactured by HINOKI SOKEN CO., LTD.)
(3)	Nursing care lift for bathrooms (Mikuni Corporation product made to SEKISUI HOMETECHNO specifications)

FRP bathtub + Transfer stand	Compact mechanical bathtub	Bathroom care lift
Japanese-cypress bathtub + Cypress transfer stand	Sitting board	Bathroom care lift

<Reference>

(1) Overview of SEKISUI HOMETECHNO Co., Ltd.

• Head Office:	17th Floor Nissei Shin-Osaka Bldg., 3-4-30 Miyahara, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
• Representative:	Representative Director and President: Norio Kondo
• Capital:	360 million yen
• Sales:	42 billion yen (March 31, 2008)
• Number of employees:	541 (March 31, 2008)
• Main Businesses:	Manufacture and sales of housing equipment and devices Sales of housing materials and related parts Ancillary construction for products and building construction Maintenance and reform construction

(2) Concerning System baths for Nursing Care Facilities

SEKISUI HOMETECHNO's system baths for nursing care facilities are larger than conventional units in use, comprising two models, 2024II (interior dimensions: 1980 x 2445 x 2197 mm) and 2020IV (internal dimensions: 1980 x 1980 x 2197 mm) with an easily re-configurable "user-convertible" layout consisting of a bathtub, a transfer stand and a vertical handrail, enabling a wide range of applications from autonomous bathing to two or three-directional assisted bathing with an aim to achieve "safe and comfortable autonomous-support and nursing care." Additionally, in place of the usual FRP bathtub, the system may also be configured with a Japanese-cypress bathtub to provide relaxation or a compact mechanical bathtub that eases the burden on caregivers.

Currently, system baths for nursing care facilities are in use in nursing care facilities for the elderly and hospitals at 600 or more locations nationwide.

<2-directional assisted bathing plan>
Bathtub installed at left

<Autonomous bathing plan>
Bathtub at center with transfer tands at each side

<1 caregiver plan>
Bathtub at right with transfer stand at left

<Japanese-cypress bathtub specification>

(3) Affiliated Lease Company

Hitachi Capital Corporation
• Head Office: 2-15-12 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
• Representative: Kazuo Takano

Press Contact

SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
Corporate Communication Department
Fax: (+81) 3-5521-0510

Disclaimer

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements due to changes in global economic, business, competitive market and regulatory factors.

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