MKV Dream Co., Ltd.*1 (head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President Katsutoshi Ogihara), a leading manufacturer of agricultural materials and a consolidated subsidiary of Mitsubishi Plastics, Inc., announces that it will start the full-scale sales of “BISANRAN™ DIASTAR™” in late November this year. The product is a new grade of the DIASTAR™ series, which has been offering polyolefin-based agricultural films used as greenhouse covers for its excellent durability. While maintaining the level of total light transmission comparable to that of previous DIASTAR™ products, BISANRAN™ adequately scatters incoming sunlight to a greenhouse: this accelerates the growth of agricultural crops, prevents sunburn on fruits and leaf tips under high-temperature, and helps produce better quality crops.

 In general, covering materials such as agricultural films used for greenhouses have durability and strength under harsh environmental conditions (rain, wind, sunlight, etc.), and UV protection and other various properties to prevent damages arising directly from such conditions. Recently, in order to improve crop yields and quality during high temperature periods, agricultural materials manufacturers have released greenhouse films with a frosted surface that can scatter incoming sunlight to a greenhouse; this reduces the amount of sunlight within the house, and prevents sharp temperature changes from early in the morning till noon as well as sunburn on fruits and leaf tips. However, these products are also known for its weakness in maintaining stable crop yields, as they reflect some portion of sunlight away from the greenhouse, resulting in insufficient amount of sunlight for photosynthesis to occur in winter when the sunshine duration decreases.

 The new product BISANRAN™ DIASTAR™ is developed to have the low-light scattering property, by adding inorganic materials into the intermediate layer of the multi-layered film “DIASTAR™” that has excellent durability, antifogging and transparency properties. This technology allows the new film to effectively reduce the reflection of sunlight from the surface of a greenhouse, thus maintaining an outstanding 90% total light transmission (by our measurement), almost the same level as that of previous DIASTAR™ products. In addition, BISANRAN™ can adequately scatter incoming sunlight to the greenhouse, so it makes the light reach all parts of the house. This also helps to decrease the shade cast by leaves or the frame of a greenhouse. As a result, photosynthesis of crops will be accelerated within the structure and better crop yields can be expected*2. In addition, BISANRAN™ can reduce sunburn on fruits and the leaves of crops in the midsummer so as to increase the quality of crops. The film is translucent, and thus can be applied to the side surface of the greenhouse for increased privacy, as it creates a blurred effect when you try to look through it.

 MKV Dream strives to attain the concept of “KAITEKI” advocated by the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group, by promoting “next generation agribusiness” through the development of new agricultural materials products that can effectively assist farm producers while focusing on the expansion of its solar powered plant factory project.

 

*1 The name of MKV Dream will change to “Mitsubishi Plastics Agri Dream Co., Ltd.” as of January 1, 2013.
*2 The use of conventional transparent films may be considered more appropriate depending on the structure of greenhouses and environmental conditions. 

[Interior visibility from outside the greenhouse]

                              

BISANRAN™ DIASTAR™ (translucent)  DIASTAR™ (transparent)
 
[Application example]

 

Ceiling: BISANRAN™ DIASTAR™ (translucent)
Side surface: DIASTAR™ (transparent)

The product is designed to offer domestic customers in principle: there will be a need for various procedures for confirmation in the case of export.

 

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