About Shin-Etsu Chemical

Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. engages in the manufacture and sale of chemicals, electronics materials, and functional materials. Segments The company operates its business in three business segments: the organic and inorganic chemicals segment, the electronics materials segment, and the functional materials and others segment. The Organic and Inorganic Chemicals Segment The organic and inorganic chemicals segment engages in the manufacture and sale of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), silicones, and other products. Its organic and inorganic chemical product offerings include Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Silicones, Methanol, Chloromethanes, Cellulose derivatives, Caustic soda, and Silicon Metal. PVC: The company’s PVC is a general-use resin that has applications in goods used in daily life and in all kinds of industrial materials. The company engages in the development and manufacture of PVC, which incorporates its own original major polymerization and non-scale technologies. The company produces PVC, with major production capacity in the three main markets, including Japan, the U.S. and Europe. PVC is a fire-resistant plastic, and is used in construction materials, such as window frames and siding. Piping and pipe parts using PVC are dependable, safe and economical basic components that help create an essential part of modern society's construction infrastructure. Silicones: Shin-Etsu silicones are found in approximately 4,000 products in the electric machinery, electronics, transportation equipment, construction, cosmemics, toiletries, and chemical industries. The company’s silicones serve as efficient transfer medium in electrical and electronic devices. The company also produces multipurpose silicone oil and is developing new modifications and alternatives for plastic applications. In cosmetics, the company is pursuing silicone products that improve skin softness. The company is also pursuing the development of non-solvent agents for applications in electric machinery, electronics, and paper release products. The company is working to realize the potential of an integrated production structure in Thailand, with silicone monomer. Cellulose derivatives: The environment-friendly materials made from cellulose derivatives are applied in construction and civil engineering, agriculture, additives for fine ceramics and paper processing, as well as in pharmaceuticals and toiletries. Cellulose derivatives are used for coatings and binders for pharmaceutical tablets and granules. In industrial-use products, cellulose derivatives are used for binders for shaping ceramic converters that purify automobile exhaust emissions. Other Products: The company manufactures an abundant lineup of products, including synthetic pheromones and acetylene derivatives. In the field of agriculture, synthetic pheromones have been developed as agents to control the populations of harmful insect. They are used in the United States and Europe for crops like apples, peaches, pears, and vines. In Japan its products are used in apples, peaches, pears, cole crops, and in tea orchards. The company also engages in the production and marketing of acetylene derivatives, such as synthetic aroma chemicals that are used in perfumes, cosmetics, and food flavourings. The company also manufactures silicon metal. Silicon metal is used in products, such as silicones, semiconductor silicon, and synthetic quartz. The company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Western Australia Simcoa Operations Pty., Ltd., secures stable and supplies valuable commodity. The Electronics Materials Segment The electronics materials segment engages in the manufacture and sale of semiconductor silicon and other materials. Its electronics material product offerings include: semiconductor silicon, organic materials for the electronics industry, rare earth magnets for the electronics industry, and photoresists. Semiconductor Silicon: The company operates in the field of silicon wafer, which is a building block for integrated circuits to develop technologies for producing larger-diameter, super flat, and low-defect silicon wafers. The company has manufacturing base in Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, the United States, and the United Kingdom. As of March 31, 2004, the company has shipped approximately 200 mm wafers, which are used in PC’s and digital home electronics. The company’s silicon on insulator (SOL) wafers and special wafers are used in functional devices. Rare Earth Magnets: The rare earth magnets support to create compact, lightweight and energy-saving electric and magnetic components. The rare earth magnets are principally used in voice coil motors (VCM) for hard disk drives (HDDs). Epoxy Molding Compounds: Epoxy molding compounds are chip encapsulation materials used in the vast majority off semiconductor products from a single semiconductor to main memories and central processing units (CPUs). The company has developed a green epoxy molding compound (EMC) product to fulfill application requirements. Photoresists and Pellicles: The company markets photoresist compatible with excimer lasers, a light-sensitive material used in the imprinting of semiconductor circuits. The company has also developed pellicles and dust covers for photomasks, which are used for excimer laser lithography. The company is also developing the next generation argon fluoride (ArF) photoresist. The Functional Materials and Others Segment The functional materials and others segment engages in the manufacture and sale of synthetic quartz, rare earth magnets, and other products, as well as providing other services, including construction and repair. Its functional material and other products include: synthetic quartz products, oxide single crystals, rare earths, rare earth magnets, export of technology and plants, export and import of goods, construction and plant engineering, and information processing. Synthetic quartz Products: The synthetic quartz products are used to speed up the optical fiber networks, which supports the network computing and the development of LSIs and liquid-crystal display panel technologies. The company’s synthetic quartz products, including performs for optical fibers, photomask substrates for LSIs, mask substrates for liquid crystals, and other products provide indispensable material for the information technology (IT) industry. The company’s major mask substrates are used to manufacture liquid crystal panels. Rare Earth Magnets for General Applications, and Rare Earths: Rare earth magnets for general applications contribute to the realization of product that are more compact and lightweight, and have higher outputs, such as motors. These rare earth magnets have various applications, such as in energy-saving air conditioners, motors for automobiles, and optical pickups in CD players. In addition, rare earth magnets are used in energy-saving and eco-friendly applications, including motors for fuel cell cars, which are becoming more practical as a clean transporting means, as well as in motors for hybrid vehicles. These rare earths are used for applications, such as plasma displays, LCD TVs, the luminescent centers of lasers, and oxygen sensors, catalytic converters, and capacitors for automobile engines. Liquid Fluoroelastomers SHIN-ETSU SIFEL: The company develops Liquid Fluoroelastomers SHIN-ETSU SIFEL that comes in a liquid or paste form prior to hardening and then comes elastic after thermal curing. SHIN-ETSU SIFEL contributes to the reliability in the shape of rubber molds and sealants in the automobile, aircraft, electric, and electronic, office equipment and chemical industries. Flexible Copper-Clad Laminates: The company has developed copper-clad laminates with superior flexibility by affixing copper foil to polyimide film using its proprietary technology. It is used in thin and lightweight printed circuit boards, copper-clad laminates contribute to more compact and lightweight mobile phones, digital cameras, flat-display panel TVs, DVD recorders and players, as well as other digital home electronics. Others: The company offers panel alignment machines for the LCD and PDP markets which are used in digital home electronics field. The company provides panel alignment machines for the flat-panel TV market needs. Markets The company offers its products and services in North America, principally in USA and Canada; Asia, principally in South Korea, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, and Singapore; and other areas, such as U.K., Netherlands, Australia, Europe, Middle South America, and Oceania. History The company was founded in 1926 under the name Shin-Etsu Nitrogen Fertilizer Co., Ltd. and changed its name to Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. in 1940.