Jun 22, 2009

Toppan Printing to begin sample shipments of new solar cell backsheet product "DuPont Tedlar(R) film with BS-TX from Toppan"

In July 2008, Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. (hereafter Toppan Printing; Head office: Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo; President & CEO: Naoki Adachi) and E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company of the U.S. (hereafter DuPont; Head office: Wilmington, Delaware; Chief Executive Officer: Ellen J. Kullman) concluded a technology transfer and license agreement for DuPont’s polyvinyl fluoride resin processing technology for solar cell backsheets and a trademark license agreement for DuPont’s registered trademark "Tedlar(R) film".
Based on these agreements, from June 2009, Toppan Printing will begin sample shipments of "DuPont Tedlar(R) film with BS-TX from Toppan", a new solar cell backsheet product developed using DuPont’s material technology and Toppan Printing’s printing processing technology.

In April 2009, Toppan Printing completed construction of the Fukaya Plant (Fukaya, Saitama Prefecture, Japan) and installed a consolidated production line which includes the commercialization of backsheets based on raw materials supplied by DuPont. A stable supply of the Tedlar® BS-TX Series will be available to all the world’s markets.
Toppan Printing will enhance sales of the new Tedlar(R) BS-TX Series together with sales of solar cell backsheets using the company’s original "GL Film" barrier film which are already available. The company will aim for a production volume of 2GW (gigawatts: equivalent of solar cell output) for its solar cell backsheet business as a whole and also for the No.1 share of the global market.

"Our partnership with Toppan on this innovative Tedlar(R) technology allows us to supply the market more quickly," said Kelly Kolliopoulos, global business manager, Tedlar(R)."Backsheets made from Tedlar(R) continue to be in high demand for the photovoltaic (PV) market because Tedlar(R) provides high quality and lasting performance. Toppan has been an excellent partner in this endeavor, and we look forward to the commercialization of this product this year."

Background
-The solar cell market is growing significantly in Japan and overseas and this trend is expected to continue in the future. Market expansion is anticipated as countries plan public subsidizing policies related to green energy. Similar expansion is therefore also anticipated for the market for solar cell backsheets as a component of solar cells.
-There are solar cell backsheet products available using a variety of materials but DuPont’s Tedlar(R) film has a track record of over 25 years of use and a large share of the market.
-While Toppan Printing is aiming to expand its solar cell backsheet business, DuPont has been considering business partners for its polyvinyl fluoride resin processing technology. The two companies therefore reached an agreement and sample shipments will begin for the new solar cell backsheet product "DuPont Tedlar(R) film with BS-TX from Toppan".

Special features of the product
It has high durability meaning it can be used for long periods outside. (Tedlar(R) film has a track record of over 25 years of use for solar cell backsheets)

Future developments
Toppan Printing will further advance research and development, aim to develop even more durable solar cell backsheets based on the vacuum vapor deposition technology developed in the manufacture of "GL"barrier film, and further strengthen its solar cell component business.
Toppan Printing is aiming for revenue of around 30 billion yen in fiscal 2010 from sales of solar cell backsheets, barrier films and other functional films.

This product will be exhibited in the Toppan Printing booth at "PV JAPAN2009", which will be held from Wednesday 24 to Friday 26 June, 2009 at Makuhari Messe (Organizer: Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association).

"Tedlar" is registered trademark of E.I.DuPont or it’s affiliates.