Technological Advances

At the heart of Shin-Etsu Polymer’s technological development are fundamental technologies involving materials and compounding, design, molding processes, and evaluation and analysis. Key materials include silicone rubber, plastics and conductive materials. Based on these key materials and by conducting multifaceted development of the core technologies we have cultivated over many years, we provide high-value-added products that meet diverse customer needs in a wide range of fields.

Automotive

  • Input devices
  • View Control Film (VCF)
  • Silicone rubber for wiper blades

Silicone Products

  • Silicone rubber tubes
  • Silicone rubber sheet

Life Science

  • Medical devices
  • Culture plugs

Information Devices

  • Input devices
  • Connectors for LCDs
  • Connectors for P.C. boards
  • Glass screen protective material/spacer
  • Film for panels
  • EMC
  • Office automation rollers

Semiconductors

  • Wafer containers
  • Plastic tape frame
  • Filters for liquid filtration
  • Inspection of semiconductor/electrical devices

Construction Materials

  • PVC pipes
  • Corrugated sheets
  • Sealants
  • Self-adhesive silicone materials
  • Self-bonding silicone rubber tape

Materials

  • Compounds
  • Conductive polymer
  • High-performance engineering plastic film

Electronic Components

  • Embossed carrier tape
  • Top cover tape

Energy

  • Carbon mold separator

General-Purpose Packaging

  • Wrapping films
  • Adhesive film
  • Gas-permeable film
  • CD and DVD packaging

Research & Development

In research and development, we promote the competitiveness of existing products and the development of next generation businesses by cultivating fundamental technologies and by expanding and evolving core technologies. In addition, we actively engage in alliances with outside resources such as material manufacturers and universities, and carry out initiatives with an emphasis on innovative R&D and speedy development.

Functions and Frameworks for R&D

To respond to changes in the operating environment and foster a sense of partnership with customers, Shin-Etsu Polymer takes full advantage of its technologies and production capacity to quickly create the value that customers require.

  • Formulation of Technology Strategy
    Office of Products Development Management / Intellectual Property Department
    This department is responsible for formulating medium-to-long-term technology strategies and conducting technical investigations with a view to technical tie-ups and M&A, and expanding the Group’s intangible assets by filing for and utilizing industrial property rights in line with intellectual property strategies.
  • Development of New Themes
    Office of New Business Development
    This office promotes the enhancement of core technologies and the launch of new businesses and products through its involvement in research and development driven by both market needs and technological advancements and the creation and improvement of materials and processing technologies.
  • Research and Development of New Products and Businesses
    Research and Development of New Products
    Development Department Ⅰ－Ⅴ works in close cooperation with customers to promote research and development that responds promptly to market changes.

    Research and Development of New Businesses
    Development Department Ⅰ－Ⅴ is responsible for the enhancement of new business products, such as conductive polymers, high-performance films and electromagnetic wave shields, and works to quickly prepare the production environment. It also plays a leading role in improving the level of customer satisfaction and promoting business expansion.

  • New Equipment Development
    Engineering Division
    This division is involved in expanding applications of the Company’s core technologies such as its silicone processing technologies and developing elemental technologies, as well as promoting and managing joint projects and development themes with sales divisions. It also supports the engineering and production activities of production bases worldwide and monitors the development of facilities.
  • Quality Assurance
    Office of Quality Assurance
    This is the main unit in charge of the Group’s global quality assurance. It formulates basic policies and strategies for quality assurance, supervises quality assurance organizations in each region and operating base, and directs the execution of specific plans and strategies. In addition, the office has established a system to check the quality of products in development when moving them into mass production to enable a quick transition to mass production.

Initiatives for R&D

Together with the Production Unit and the Sales Unit, Shin-Etsu Polymer’s Development Unit refines core technologies and develops in-house products to respond quickly to market needs. Since our founding, we have conducted multifaceted development of the core technologies we have cultivated over many years based on fundamental technologies backed up by our extensive experience and knowledge as a manufacturer of plastics. We apply our compounding technology for functional resins, such as conductive materials, and our precision microfabrication processing technology to develop innovative products. Through our integrated development system from design to evaluation, we provide high-value-added products that meet diverse customer needs.

Intellectual Property Initiatives

The Shin-Etsu Polymer Group recognizes that patents, technological know-how and other intellectual properties are key management assets. Accordingly, we set intellectual property strategies for each business field with a different business model and promote the full use of “offensive” and “defensive” intellectual property management to support the development of new markets and new customers.

For offensive management, the Intellectual Property Department works together as one with the Sales Unit, the Development Unit and the Production Unit to promote measures such as strategic patent filing and registration of industrial property rights. We intend to actively use our intellectual property rights to gain a competitive edge in the market.

For defensive management, we conduct measures such as increasing our global research activities and dealing with intellectual property life cycle management and intellectual property-related agreements, based on respect for the intellectual property rights of other companies. We also conduct educational and awareness-building activities such as ongoing intellectual property training to raise the level of our intellectual property activities.

The number of registered patents and other intellectual property assets of the Shin-Etsu Polymer Group as of March 31, 2018 and 2019 was as follows.

As of 3/31/2018 As of 3/31/2019
Japan Patents 1,028 1,034
Utility models 6 3
Industrial designs 78 72
Trademarks 139 143
Foreign patents, etc. 554 537

Chemical Analysis Center

Our field: from polymeric materials analysis to physical properties measurement.

Shin-Etsu Polymer’s Chemical Analysis Center provides professional services such as composition analysis of polymeric materials, analysis of foreign materials in the products, physical properties measurement of polymeric materials to clients. With enough experiences in polymeric materials analysis technology, Chemical Analysis Center responds to clients’ requests, solves problems and assists with their business growth.

Accredited ISO 17025
Shin-Etsu Polymer’s Chemical Analysis Center was approved as the accredited scope: chemical test based on the ISO/IEC17025 (General requirement for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories) by JAB (The Japan Accreditation Board for Conformity Assessment) dated April 11,2001.This implementation has contributed the customer’s confidence through the technical and development support service.

Analysis of additives in the Polymeric materials
Analysis of polymeric platicizer by LC

  • Analysis of stabilizer (compositon of organic metal stabilizer)
  • Lubricant, plasticizer, Antioxidant
  • Filler (carbon, clay, mineral ,CaCO3TiO2)

Analysis of foreign materials in the products
Analysis of elements by EPMA

  • Analysis of foreign materials in the resins
  • Analysis of foreign materials in the rubber
  • Micro-FT-IR analysis

Analysis of elements(Non Destructive)
XRF

  • Analysis of elements
  • Analysis of foreign materials in the resins (μ-EDX)
  • Analysis of environmental (Cd,Pb,etc.)compliance with European Regulation WEEE & RoHS

Physical properties measurement of polymeric materials
Weather resistance test by Sunshine Weather Meter

  • Environment test
  • Ozone test
  • Impact, bending test
  • Surface roughness test (friction, exfoliation)
  • Weather resistance test (xenon, sunshine, fade)

Surface analysis
Surface analysis by FT-IR

  • Surface contamination
  • Resin coating film analysis
  • Laminated analysis

Analysis of practical surface
Analysis of electronics materials by ESCA

  • Analysis of inferior appearance
  • Condition analysis of metal surface
  • Contact fault analysis of electronics materials

Trace organic analysis
Trace organic analysis by GC-MS

  • The Analysis of volatile matter from the polymer (GC-MS)
  • The Analysis of the composition of polymer modifier (PGC-MS)
  • The Qualitative Analysis of osmosis material to synthetic rubber (GC-MS)

Analysis of trace elements
Analysis of trace elements by ICP-AES

  • Analysis of environmental regulated material (Cd,Pb etc.) compliance with European Regulation WEEE & RoHS

Quality Control

Shin-Etsu Polymer has Quality Control Programs to continuously supply high quality products to a variety of marketplace including electronic components, food packaging and construction materials.
The following shows the update of ISO9000 certification Shin-Etsu Polymer received since 1987.