Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. has announced the expansion of its presence and capacity in Thailand.

Accordingly, the company’s High Performance Plastics Company will add a new film production line to its production base in Rayong province in Thailand. Specifically, this base works on interlayer film for laminated glass.

Accordingly, the investment amount for the capacity expansion is around ¥8 billion.

Moreover, the new film production line is scheduled to start operation in the second half of fiscal year 2026. The new film production line is planned to produce a group of high-performance products (N-HPP * ^{1 )}

Background, Objectives

The Interlayer Film Division manufactures and sells interlayer films for laminated glass used in automobiles and buildings globally. Furthermore, it has the world’s top share (FY2023 estimate) in the automotive interlayer film market.

Moreover, the number of automobiles produced worldwide will grow at an annual rate of about 1-2% in the future. Thus, reaching 98 million units in 2030 (90 million units in 2023) ^*2 .

In addition, the shift to new energy vehicles (EVs, etc.) is accelerating, and interlayer films for laminated glass will expand in more locations than automobile production. This includes not only windshields but also side and roof glass. Furthermore, in response to the growing need for automobile performance such as safety, comfort, and energy efficiency.

Furthermore, the company said, “We believe that interlayer films with added high functions such as HUD compatibility, design, sound insulation, and heat insulation will continue to grow at a high annual growth rate of more than 5%.”
In response to these needs, Sekisui Chemical began full-scale production of sound insulation interlayers at its Mexican plant (Morelos) in the second half of 2017. Furthermore, it started its wedge-shaped interlayers for HUDs at its Dutch plant (Roermond) in the second half of 2020. “We have now decided to add an N-HPP production line in Thailand, focusing on wedge-shaped interlayers for HUDs and color/design interlayers.”

Overview of Thai factory

The new Thai factory,  SEKISUI S-LEC (THAILAND) CO., LTD. is a 100% owned by Sekisui Chemical. Its location is at 64/31 Moo4 Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate, T .Pluakdaeng A. Pluakdaeng Rayong 21140, Thailand.

Mainly, it will produce interlayer film for laminated glass (normal film, sound insulation film, heat insulation film, color/design film, wedge-shaped film for HUD).

“We will continue to work towards the realization of a sustainable society through the development and provision of highly functional, high-added-value products. Specifically, contributing to the ever-growing automobile industry and the resolution of social issues,” the company said.

Notes:

*1 centered on wedge-shaped interlayer film for head-up displays (HUD).

N-HPP: Abbreviation for New-High performance products. A general term for conventional high-performance films excluding sound insulation films, other films for HUD, heat insulation, and color/design.

*2 Our estimate based on various documents

26 July 2024