－High-performance interlayer films for laminated glass manufacturing capacity increased,
and point of demand manufacturing system strengthened－

The High Performance Plastics Company (President: Keita Kato) of Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. (President: Teiji Koge, hereinafter called "Sekisui Chemical") manufacture and sales of interlayer films for laminated glass is expanding globally, and is proud to have the top share of the market for interlayer film for automobiles in the world at approximately 50% (Sekisui Chemical’s estimate in FY2014).

Recently, to correspond to the manufacturing capacity increase of automobile makers in the Central and South America market, our Mexico Plant is adding a third production line. The additional production line is scheduled to begin operation in the later half of FY2017, and is scheduled to manufacture mainly sound insulation interlayer film(S-LecTM Sound Acoustic Film), a high-performance interlayer film.

Our Mexico Plant started operation in 1971 and is the 2nd oldest of our plants for laminated glass interlayer films. In the past, the North American plant corresponded to North American market demand and the Mexico plant corresponded to Central and South America market demand.

However, the entire Americas market is growing robustly and the present increase in demand is being met mainly by imports from Japan. Now, with the expansion of the manufacturing capacity of our Mexico Plant, the entire Americas demand will soon be met by the Mexico and North America plants. And, our competitiveness will be even stronger.

Sekisui Chemical’s interlayer film business

Sekisui Chemical’s interlayer film business continues to strengthen its manufacturing capacity to correspond to increases in the number of automobiles manufactured and expansion of the glass area of a single automobile. Especially, the demand for high-performance interlayer films such as sound insulation film, heat insulation film(S-LecTM Solar Control Film), sound and heat insulation film(S-LecTM Sound and Solar Film) for increased automobile interior comfort needs continues to increase.

Most notably, sound insulation film made by all interlayer film manufacturers including Sekisui Chemical is used in approximately 30% of the automobiles sold worldwide (Sekisui Chemical’s estimate in FY2014), and its use in windshields as well as in side windows and roof panels is spreading and the scale is steadily expanding. To respond to this situation, sound insulation film manufacturing started at our China Plant in April, 2015 to promote manufacturing capacity increase and manufacturing at the point of demand.

From here on, we will actively promote development and sales of high-performance films and expand our interlayer film business to contribute even more to the continuously growing automobile industry.

Mexico Plant Overview

Interlayer film manufacturing locations

 * The additional production line for sound insulation films in Mexico Plant is scheduled to begin operation in the later half of FY2017