Sumitomo Chemical to Expand Lithium-Ion Secondary Battery Separator

Apr. 25, 2014

Sumitomo Chemical announced that it will expand production capacity at its Ohe Works (located in Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture) for lithium-ion secondary battery separators (marketed under the PERVIO^TM brand name). The increased capacity will be phased in over time, with an increase of current capacity to approximately 1.7 times in the spring of 2014, approximately 1.9 times in the fall of 2014, and approximately 2.3 times by the spring of 2015.

Leveraging a host of its proprietary technologies cultivated over many years involving polymerization, inorganic materials, and polymer molding, Sumitomo Chemical is vigorously deploying its business of battery separators, which are important components in lithium-ion secondary battery cells. PERVIO^TM, which is comprised of a heat-resistant layer composed of aramid fiber and ceramics with a polyolefin substrate, is a separator that will help improve battery safety, and it is widely used in lithium-ion secondary batteries for such products as electric vehicles, notebook PCs, and smartphones.

Lithium-ion secondary batteries are shifting to those of higher capacity, while preserving safety is growing as the most important priority. PERVIO^TM is a product that will be conducive to resolving this issue, and through its use in Panasonic’s high-capacity and high-energy density cylindrical lithium-ion secondary batteries, it is also mounted on Tesla Motors' Model S, a premium performance electric car. Because of consumers' rising environmental awareness, sales of the Model S are rapidly expanding in North America and Europe, and shipments of the vehicle to markets in Asia, including Japan, are expected to begin this spring. Sumitomo Chemical began production of battery separators in 2006, and has expanded the production capacity at its Ohe Works several times already, but it has now decided to further expand its production capacity in light of these demand trends.

Sumitomo Chemical has positioned the development of next-generation businesses in the area of the Environment and Energy as one of its priority management issues, one that will contribute to resolving various global challenges we face. In the field of battery-related components and materials, which support the efficient use of energy, Sumitomo Chemical seeks to establish a business cluster based on the PERVIO^TM products as it continues to develop innovative technologies and strengthen businesses in this field.

Contact

Corporate Communications Office.
27-1, Shinkawa 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-8260, Japan
TEL: +81-3-5543-5102 FAX: +81-3-5543-5901