Mitsubishi Plastics, Inc. (head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President Takumi Ubagai) hosted a ceremony on July 24, 2012 to celebrate the completion of its new separator plant. The new plant has been under construction on the premises of the Nagahama Plant (Nagahama-shi, Shiga Prefecture; General manager Toshiaki Kido) to serve as the second production line of "SEPALENT^TM", a separator used for lithium-ion secondary batteries (production capacity: 15 million m²/year). This production expansion was planned to meet the rising battery demand, with almost 2.5 billion yen having been invested in the project. The "SEPALENT^TM" produced at the new plant will undergo quality testing to be certified by each lithium-ion secondary battery manufacturer. The new plant is expected to launch its commercial production in 2013.

　The separator for lithium-ion secondary batteries developed and manufactured by Mitsubishi Plastics is one of the four key components in the lithium-ion battery materials business, which is regarded as a "high growth business" field by the parent company Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings. The separator is a porous film that allows the proper amount of lithium ions to pass through but prevents electrical shorts caused by the cathode coming into contact with the anode. The film also has a shutdown function as a safety switch in case of thermal runaway by closing the pores of the separator.
　By making use of our material design and film-forming technologies, Mitsubishi Plastics has developed a highly-functional, cost effective separator with a long cycle-life and excellent output rate at low temperatures. The production of the separator was launched in August 2009 at the Nagahama Plant (12 million m²/year). Since then, the separator has been adopted for use in lithium batteries for mobile phones, power tools and laptop computers. The Company also developed a high heat-resistant separator for hybrid and electric vehicles, for which demand is expected to grow significantly over the coming years. Under such circumstances, Mitsubishi Plastics decided to construct a new plant and install the second production line last year.

　Mitsubishi Plastics will promote the sale of "SEPALENT^TM" by strengthening collaboration with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation which sells four materials related to lithium-ion secondary batteries, and at the same time, is constantly developing highly functional separators that can meet the needs of its customers. In this way, the Company continues its efforts to further expand the lithium-ion battery materials business of the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group.

Overview of the new plant
　1. Production capacity: 15 million m²/year
　2. Invested amount: Approximately 2.5 billion yen
　3. Completion: July 24, 2012 (commercial production will launch in 2013)
　4. Total production capacity: 27 million m²/year (after launching the new plant)
　5. Location: On the premises of the Nagahama Plant (Nagahama-shi, Shiga Prefecture)

Construction completion ceremony

Separator

New separator plant (in the Nagahama Plant)

 

For further information please contact:
Public Relations and Investor Relations office,
Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation.
TEL: +81-3-6748-7140