TOYOTA BOSHOKU : and Mitsui Chemicals Conclude a Patent License Agreement on High Impact-Resistant Plastic Aiming to increase the use of “high impact-resistant plastic” as a plastic modifier made by Mitsui Chemicals

KARIYA (JAPAN)- April 11, 2017 - Toyota Boshoku Corporation (TOKYO:3116) and Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (TOKYO:4183) have been considering a business alliance for the commercialization of 'high impact-resistant plastic' since November 2016. The two companies have recently concluded a license agreement on the use by Mitsui Chemicals of patents which Toyota Boshoku holds on the high impact-resistant plastic.

Based on this agreement, Mitsui Chemicals will seek to expand its modifier business by this high impact-resistant plastic as one of the modifiers made by Mitsui Chemicals not only in the automotive market but also in the industrial and consumer goods market, taking advantage of its manufacturing technologies, equipment and sales channels for the use of this high impact-resistant plastic.

Toyota Boshoku has developed a method of using the high impact-resistant plastic which Toyota Boshoku has developed jointly with Toyota Central R&D Labs, Inc., as a modifier that improves the impact-resistant performance of plastics. It has been looking to commercialize this development with Mitsui Chemicals in expectation of growing application for not only in-house products such as automobile seats and door trims, but also for other parts in areas other than automobiles that require impact resistance.

In the years ahead, Mitsui Chemicals will work to disseminate this high impact-resistant plastic by using its high technical expertise and sales channels in the area of plastic modifiers, while Toyota Boshoku will seek to strengthen the competitiveness of its in-house products by considering applications for automobile seats and door trims that will contribute to the better automotive safety performance.