Corporate History

1984 Tonen General Sekiyu Group Company begins research into micro-perforated film
(microporous membranes)
1988   Construction of battery separator film (BSF) pilot plant
(Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture)
1990   Tonen Chemical Nasu Co., Ltd. established
(Nasu-Shiobara, Tochigi Prefecture)
1991   BSF used in the world's first commercialized lithium-ion
secondary battery
1993   Construction of plant for BSF semi-mass production
(Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture)
1997   Operations start at BSF mass production plant
(Nasu-Shiobara, Tochigi Prefecture)
2007   Tonen Specialty Separator Godo Kaisha established
(Nasu-Shiobara, Tochigi Prefecture)
BSF business merged with the company through a corporate spin-off
2008   Tonen Specialty Separator Korea Limited established
(Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
2009   Operations begin at new production facility in South Korea
(Gumi, Gyeongangbuk-do)
2010 With an investment from Toray Industries, Inc., BSF business begins operating as Toray Tonen
Specialty Separator Godo Kaisha and Toray Tonen Specialty Separator Korea Limited
2011 Company announces expansion of BSF manufacturing facility in South Korea
(Gumi, Gyeongangbuk-do)
2012 With the return (repayment) of TonenGeneral Sekiyu Group's 50% stake, the companies
began operating as Toray Battery Separator Film Godo Kaisha (100% owned by Toray) and
Toray Battery Separator Film Korea Limited (100% owned by Toray Battery Separator Film Godo Kaisha).
Toray Battery Separator Film Godo Kaisha was reorganized as Toray Battery Separator Film Co., Ltd.
2017 Toray Industries, Inc. absorbed Toray Battery Separator Film Co., Ltd. effective April 1, 2017.
Toray Battery Separator Film Korea Limited and Toray BSF Coating Korea Limited remain as wholly owned consolidated subsidiaries in Korea.