DuPont PV, Toppan to boost production of PV materials

DuPont said this agreement is part of its efforts to increase the availability of DuPont Tedlar films and backsheet for the fast growing PV market, and expects commercialization of the new backsheet product from Toppan using this technology in 2010.

By Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor -- Electronic News, 7/30/2008

Under a technology licensing agreement, Tokyo-based Toppan Printing Co will commercialize backsheet for photovoltaic (PV) modules using a new technology from DuPont Photovoltaic Fluoromaterials (PVFM), which contains DuPont Tedlar polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) polymer in a single step.

DuPont said this agreement is part of its efforts to increase the availability of DuPont Tedlar films and backsheet for the fast growing PV market, and expects commercialization of the new backsheet product from Toppan using this technology in 2010.

Also, this technology license follows recent manufacturing expansions for DuPont Tedlar polymer and Tedlar PV2100 films, in addition to incremental expansions of its capacity for Tedlar PV2000 film, with capacity for Tedlar PV2100 films increased by 20 fold in the last year. DuPont said it continues to plan for future capacity expansions for the Tedlar monomer, polymer and films it produces.

“This collaboration combines DuPont’s proprietary technology for Tedlar polymer in backsheets, with Toppan’s unique coating capability. We view the new backsheet technology as complementary to our continuing activities to increase the supply of Tedlar films in order to meet the industry’s growth and demand for Tedlar. Increasing capacity continues to be the top priority for this business, and we will continue to communicate further developments related to Tedlar film expansion planning in the future,” explained Kelly Kolliopoulos, global business manager for DuPont’s Tedlar product, in a statement.