SDK to expand its aluminum laminated films Business in China

Showa Denko Packaging Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Showa Denko K.K. (SDK), has started cooperating with Iwatani Corporation's two subsidiaries in China to expand its business in aluminum laminated films used for packaging lithium ion rechargeable batteries (LIBs).

The Iwatani Group's Suzhou ISR e-Films Co., Ltd. (Jiangsu Province, China) and Zhongshan Iwatani Co., Ltd. (Guandong Province, China) last month began slitting work, and distribution services in China and other Asian markets, for Showa Denko Packaging's aluminum laminated films.

The aluminum laminated film is an aluminum foil/resin film composite material, which ensures higher flexibility in molding, lighter weight, and better heat dissipation compared with metallic cans. Thus, this aluminum laminated film is being widely used as packaging material for small LIBs for mobile applications, and is expected to be also adopted in large LIBs for vehicles and storage batteries.

Showa Denko Packaging has so far handled the entire process of manufacturing in Japan, from lamination of resin film with aluminum foil to slitting. However, Showa Denko Packaging has been seeking ways of more speedily responding to the needs of the growing market in Asia, centering on China.

With the new setup in China, Showa Denko Packaging aims to increase efficiency in physical distribution, achieve better communications with customers, substantially shorten the lead time, and improve the level of service. As for other applications such as containers for food, electronics and medicine, Showa Denko Packaging is also considering usage of these sites in China for processing and distribution.

The Showa Denko Group is working hard to ensure its "Evolution into a Company That Creates Added Value." As for the aluminum laminated film business, the Group will make it more resistant to the influence of higher yen, optimize the business model, review the supply chains, and increase the speed of realizing R&D results. By taking these steps, the Group will ensure that the business will have high originality, competitiveness, and a strong presence on the global market.