Shin-Etsu to invest Yen 5 bn in silicones R&D facility in Japan

To further strengthen its research and development activities for silicones, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co Ltd has decided to construct a new research building at its silicone electronics materials research center in Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.
 
The completion of the new facility, which will be built with an investment of Yen 5 billion (about $ 47 milliion), is planned for the first half of 2016. The new research building will be constructed adjoining the existing research center building within the premises of Shin-Etsu’s Matsuida plant in Gunma Complex.
 
Silicone is a highly functional material with silicon metal as its main raw material and is used in wide range of application fields. The silicone business is one of Shin-Etsu Chemical’s main businesses. Shin-Etsu’s silicone business, which has major presence in Japan, has been actively pursuing the expansion of its global silicones business.
 
With the construction of this new research building, the company will be able to further enhance its research and development initiative regarding silicone products for promising fields, such as healthcare, electric and electronics, energy and semiconductors, where demand is expected to grow manifolds.
 
“We anticipate that the newly strengthened silicone electronics materials research center will play the key R&D role in driving forward our company’s silicone business, and through coordinating efforts with Shin-Etsu’s technical services bases in Asia, the US and Europe, we will promote the development of products that will meet our customers' requirements,” said Shin-Etsu in a press release.