Sumitomo Electric Fine Polymer Builds Suzhou Plant for Heat-Shrinkable Tubing

Sumitomo Electric Fine Polymer announced on Thursday it established its subsidiary in Suzhou, Jiangsu of China, to make heat-shrinkable tubing called “Sumitube.” The demand is surging in China for the tubing, which is used for binding of wiring harness for automobiles, appliances and electronics devices. The firm starts the operation of the new plant in February 2007 and expects around 1 billion yen of its sales for 2007. Sumitomo Electric Fine Polymer controls the new subsidiary with US$ 5 million of capital. The firm builds integrated production line with the original technology in the plant with around 8,000 square meters of floor space on around 12,000 square meters of land. The plant will make Sumitube and processes photocopier roller products, which is made in a subsidiary Zhongshan Sumiden Hybrid Products in Zhongshan, Guangdong of China. The plant employs around 60. Sumitomo Electric Fine Polymer established SEI Fine Polymer (Shanghai) of Shanghai in October 2002 starting production of Sumitube in China. The demand of heat-shrinkable tubing in China surges for automobile wiring harness under the growth of automobile output. Chinese makers of appliances and electronics devices increase the consumption of heat-shrinkable tubing, especially for products with lower environmental impact. The firm decided to build the new plant to meet the higher demand.