Sekisui S-Lec establishes European research center at Brightlands Chemelot Campus

Sekisui S-Lec, part of Sekisui Chemical from Japan and with a factory at Chemelot, has announced the establishment of a European research center at Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Sittard-Geleen. In addition, Sekisui S-Lec has plans to expand the production capacity at Chemelot Industrial Park in Sittard-Geleen and at the site in Roermond. With these investments, Sekisui S-Lec strengthens the development of new technology, the product development and the worldwide sale of foil for laminated glass. The forces of Sekisui and Brightlands are bundled together. The announcement comes simultaneously with the celebration of 20 years Sekisui S-Lec in the Netherlands.

Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. is an international company with 50 years experience in the production of PVB (polyvinyl butyral) S-Lec foil, a product that has been produced by Sekisui S-Lec B.V. is produced in the Netherlands, especially for the automotive industry and in construction in Europe. The company produces various types of films - such as transparent, colored and darkening films - all of which have the following properties: safe, protective, sound-absorbing, protective against infrared and well insulating.

With production at Chemelot Industrial Park and in Roermond and with the European research center at Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Sekisui S-Lec can fully benefit from the opportunities offered by the innovative ecosystem. The research initially focuses on new applications in cars.

Sekisui S-Lec has plans to invest in additional production capacity at Chemelot Industrial Park and in Roermond in order to be able to respond to the growing global foil market that serves as an intermediate layer for laminated glass.

Yoshio Aoshima, chairman of Sekisui S-Lec, says: "We have been based in the Netherlands for twenty years, so we know we are in the right locations here. With regard to the development of new products and new markets, our expectations of Brightlands are high. The campus is a new environment for us, from which we have learned to appreciate the lively atmosphere. "

Bert Kip, CEO of Brightlands Chemelot Campus: "We are pleased to welcome another prominent chemical company on our campus. We are convinced that Sekisui can accelerate its innovation projects for cars with us. The campus is in fact eminently suitable as a location for companies and knowledge institutes that are active in the value chains of the automotive industry and construction, where the development of new functions and applications based on plastics is on the agenda. We not only offer access to a network of companies that are located on campus, but also to all kinds of organizations and people who visit the campus. "

 

Robert Claasen, executive director of Chemelot, commented: "Our ambition is to develop Chemelot before 2025 into the most competitive and most sustainable chemical and materials site in Europe. The investment by Sekisui supports this ambition and we look forward to the expansion. "

Twan Beurskens, deputy Economy & Knowledge Infrastructure for the Province of Limburg, adds: "To begin with, the Province of Limburg congratulates Sekisui with his 20th birthday in Limburg. We are honored by their contribution to our economy. I am pleased that Sekisui has announced the establishment of their European research center at Brightlands Chemelot Campus. This investment strengthens the economic development of our province, where there is a strong cluster of companies that are active in both the materials sector and the automotive industry. This adds value to both the production and the research chain in Limburg. "

About Sekisui
The Sekisui Chemical Group, a Japanese company, is the parent company of Sekisui S-Lec B.V. The Sekisui Chemical Group has had a leading position in the plastics process industry for more than 70 years. The group employs more than 23,000 people worldwide. Sekisui Chemical Group combines expertise in the field of production with unique materials for environmentally friendly products, for which society can benefit sustainably.

Sekisui S-Lec produces film that serves as an intermediate layer for laminated glass. This glass is used where safety, protection, insulation and protection against sunlight and noise are important, especially in the automotive industry and construction.
For application in cars, Sekisui Chemical develops new functions, in particular so-called Head-Up Display (HUD) systems. A HUD system can project information such as driving speed and roadway on the windshield of vehicles, it promotes safe driving and can be connected to other systems in the car.

The new European research center for S-Lec will start in June 2017, which will result in new jobs. The factories at Chemelot and in Roermond are part of Sekisui S-Lec. The first line at Chemelot was built in 2006, the second in 2010.

Sekisui S-Lec owes its strong market position to unique technology, high-quality products and continuous improvement of products and production processes. This is mainly motivated by customer needs and environmental issues. Sekisui S-Lec is QS 9000, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified.

The Sekisui plant at Chemelot has been producing resin since 2006, a raw material for PVB film, which was previously supplied from Japan. Since then the company has realized large savings on transport costs, while exchange rate risks are a thing of the past