Toray Industries, Inc. has announced plans to establish a new production facility for battery separator film (BSF) for lithium-ion batteries in Hungary. The facility, located at Toray Industries Hungary Kft., will increase the company's total BSF production capacity by approximately 20%. The move comes in response to the growing global demand for BSF, driven by the expansion of consumer applications and the increasing popularity of electric vehicles. Toray aims to secure a leading position in the global market for BSF and contribute to efforts to reduce environmental impact. The new facility is set to begin operations in July 2021.
TOKYO—Toray Industries, Inc., announced that it has decided to establish a new production facility for battery separator film (BSF) for lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) in Nyergesújfalu, Hungary. The new production facility will be located at Toray Industries Hungary Kft. (THU), which was established in April 2018, and will increase the Toray Group’s total BSF production capacity by approximately 20%. The new facility is schedule to begin operations in July 2021.
The Toray Group already has BSF production facilities at the Nasu Plant in Japan and in the Republic of Korea, where Toray Battery Separator Film Korea Limited (TBSK) engages in development, production and sale of BSF, while Toray BSF Coating Korea Limited (TBCK) handles coating processes. In 2017, Toray announced facility investments to expand capacity in these two locations and new lines have been started-up since fiscal 2018. Going forward, global demand for BSF is projected to expand rapidly, given steady expansionary trends in consumer applications like mobile electronics and energy storage system, and the anticipated robust increase in automotive applications as electric vehicles (EV) become more popular. In Europe in particular, where environmental awareness is increasing, it is anticipated that eco-friendly EV vehicles will rapidly spread, and battery manufacturers are also actively entering European markets. Toray has taken the basic strategic approach of “local production for local consumption” in its overseas business development. By locating production facilities in areas close to customers, Toray aims to respond to growing demand and also to contribute to the economic development of local regions and communities. In the films business, in the Medium-term Management Program, Project AP-G 2019, that Toray is currently implementing, one of the basic goals is “Expand business by expansion of high value-added products in growth business fields and maximum utilization of global bases.” Expanding the BSF business is positioned as the greatest priority within this business domain. Under its corporate philosophy, “Contributing to society through the creation of new value with innovative ideas, technologies and products,” the Toray Group is responding actively to expanding demand for BSF, which is a primary component of LiB, seeking thereby to contribute to efforts to reduce environmental impact. The Toray Group is endeavoring to secure the leading position in the global market for BSF.