Bridgestone 2008 Annual Report Download - page 24

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Eco-FriendlyDiversiedProducts
In diversied products operations, our eco-friendly products include EVA (Ethylene Vinyl
Acetate) lm for solar modules, which will have a high priority in the allocation of resources,
and electronic paper, in which we will work to reinforce the fundamental technologies.
EVA lm for solar modules is used to attach the silicon cell, which converts solar rays into
electricity, to the backing sheet and glass surface of the solar module. EVA lm becomes
transparent when heated, and it is also waterproof and UV resistant, which makes it an ideal
adhesive lm for solar modules installed outdoors.
Solar power generation using photovoltaic cells offers a clean alternative power source,
and this process is drawing attention as a means of contributing to environmental
conservation. This has led to an increase in demand for photovoltaic cells, and as a result
demand for EVA lm is also increasing rapidly.
In response to this growth in demand, Bridgestone will increase production capacity
at the Iwata Plant. We have allocated about ¥5.4 billion for investment in this project, and
we plan to begin increasing production in the rst half of 2011. As a result, our production
capacity for EVA lm will reach about 3,000 tons per month, about three times the current
level. EVA lm is a product that is representative of Bridgestone’s commitment to
environmental management activities. In the future, we will consider further increases
in production capacity in line with demand for solar modules, which is expected to see
ongoing growth.
Electronic paper, which contributes to the conservation of paper resources, is an
environmentally friendly product that is expected to record growth in the years ahead. In
October 2004, Bridgestone achieved a world rst with the successful development of
electronic paper for use in price tags that do not require electrical power to maintain the
image. This has drawn considerable attention in the marketplace, and we plan to start
full-scale commercialization initiatives in December 2009, including potential applications
in the eld of information distribution.
In addition, in 2007 we succeeded in developing an A3-size full-color electronic paper
display, the largest in the world, and the world’s thinnest exible full-color electronic paper.
These are examples of how we are reinforcing our competitive advantage through the
groundbreaking use of leading-edge technology.
INITIATIVES AND PROGRESS OF MTP2008
KEY STRATEGY 1
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