SDK to Establish Advanced Battery Materials Dept.

Tokyo, Sept 15, 2009 - (JCN Newswire) - Showa Denko  K.K. (SDK) has decided to establish an Advanced Battery Materials Department to meet growing demand for lithium ion batteries (LIBs).

The new department, to be set up tomorrow, will take unified control of SDK's businesses in battery components, including VGCFTM (additive in cathodes/anodes of high-performance LIBs) and SCMGTM (graphite anode material already adopted in LIBs for electric vehicles).

The department will collect and analyze battery-related information in a unified manner, accelerating the development of innovative technologies for battery components.

In view of the global warming issue and limitations of mineral resources, we expect increased social demand for environmental protection and energy conservation technologies. Thus, we will continue to meet the demand by providing "individualized" materials and technologies, including those for LIBs.

About Showa Denko

Showa Denko K.K. ('SDK'; TSE: 4004, US: SHWDF) is a major manufacturer and marketer of chemical products serving a wide range of fields ranging from heavy industry to the electronic and computer industries. SDK makes petrochemicals (ethylene, propylene), aluminum products (ingots, rods), electronic equipment (hard disks for computers) and inorganic materials (ceramics, carbons). The company has overseas operations and a joint venture with Netherlands-based Montell and Nippon Petrochemicals to make and market polypropylenes. In March 2001, SDK merged with Showa Denko Aluminum Corporation to strengthen the high-value-added fabricated aluminum products operations, and is today developing next-generation optical communications-use wafers. For more information, please visit www.sdk.co.jp .

Source: Showa Denko

Contact:

Showa Denko K.K. (SDK)
IR & PR Office
Phone: [phone]

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