Written on 15.10.2010 - Industry
You have these options:

Bridgestone to increase production capacity of adhesive film for solar modules

Bridgestone Corporation will increase its production capacity of EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) film, which is used as an adhesive film for solar modules. The company will invest a total of JPY 8.2 billion to increase the production capacity of its Iwata Plant in Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture and its Seki Plant in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan.

Structure of a solar module

Through this investment, Bridgestone will increase the combined monthly production capacity of both plants from 4,200 t (including increases in production capacity scheduled for 2011) to 6,600 t. This production capacity should be achieved in 2012, says the company.

Details on investments and production capacity increase in each plant

Plant	Investment	Production Capacity (Increase in Capacity	Schedule Completion
Iwata Plant	JPY 4.2 billion	4,200 tons per month (1,200 tons)	First half of 2012
Seki Plant	JPY 4.0 billion	2,400 tons per month (1,200 tons)	First half of 2012

According to Bridgestone, demand for solar modules has increased worldwide in recent years, and the market for this technology is expected to remain strong over the medium to long term, especially in Europe, North America and Japan.

EVA film is used to fasten the silicon cell (which converts the sun's rays to electricity) to the glass surface through heat-induced molecular binding. EVA film becomes transparent and colourless upon heating, while its waterproof nature and strength against ultraviolet rays makes it an ideal adhesive film for solar modules outdoors.