Malaysian conglomerate Scientex and Japanese materials supplier Mitsui Chemicals Tohcello (MCTI) have signed a joint-venture agreement to manufacture and distribute ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulating materials for PV modules and other applications. A new company will be formed, MCTI Scientex Solar, in which each party holds a 50% equity interest.
The venture will build an EVA manufacturing plant in Malacca, Malaysia, which is scheduled to start production in the third quarter of 2012. The factory is expected to have a 10,000mt capacity during the first phase of expansion.
Under the terms of the agreement, MCTI Scientex shall be granted the nonexclusive right to manufacture the product, using the technological know-how of the Japanese company. The new firm will also be granted the nonexclusive right to use the trademark and sell and distribute the product to companies owned by MCTI and other companies designated by MCTI as the buyer of the product.
MCTI is a leading producer of EVA for the solar manufacturing sector, with a factory in Nagoya, Japan.