Mitsubishi Polyester Film Announces $100 Million Expansion

Mitsubishi Polyester Film, Inc. announced a $100 million investment to expand its polyester film capacity in Greer, SC. Mitsubishi Polyester will break ground on the expansion, an addition to its nearly 1-million-square-foot facility in the first quarter of 2016. The new line will focus on specialty products.

“Mitsubishi Plastics has once again demonstrated its commitment to our business, employees, our customers and the Greer community,” said Bill Radlein, President and COO Mitsubishi Polyester Film America. “This investment would not have been possible without the strong support of State, Local and County officials. This expansion further enhances our ability to support our customers and markets with value added low cost solutions, while at the same time providing employment for the more than 500 families that depend on our business for their livelihood.”

Mitsubishi Polyester Film, the American affiliate of the Japan-based Mitsubishi Plastics, Inc., was established in 1964 with the opening of its Upstate South Carolina film plant. Celebrating its 50th anniversary last year, the facility has grown its footprint from 95,000 square-feet upon its inception to nearly one million square-feet today.

The Greer factory was originally built in 1964 by one-time PET film producer Celanese Corp. In 1991, Mitsubishi Chemical Co. became a joint venture partner in the operation. Mitsubishi acquired the operation in 1998, and created Mitsubishi Polyester Film, now the largest in North America making the high-performance films.

“It is great to see Mitsubishi make a commitment that will solidify the longevity of this facility,” said GADC President and CEO Mark Farris. “Advanced manufacturing is a critical component to many organizations’ operations, and we’ve been working hard to make sure that Greenville County residents that have desire to work in this field are prepared with the necessary education and skills. Mitsubishi’s decision to expand here in Greenville County confirms we’ve got a workforce that can deliver.”

In 2011, Mitsubishi Films invested $20 million in a capacity expansion in 2011. That investment was driven by the Reprocess initiative at the facility. Mitsubishi Polyester takes in silicone-coated, spent release film from customers and turns it into pellets for reuse. The recycled PET constitutes up to 25 percent of new PET release film made at Greer. According to Mitsubishi Polyester, they are the industry leader in silicone-coated PET film used to hold pressure-sensitive labels that are applied to a host of packaged consumer goods.

The plant, which is located at 2001 Hood Road in Greer, is the largest polyester film plant in the United States. It employs more than 500 workers engaged in the development, manufacturing and sales of a wide variety of specialty films used in industrial, packaging and electronics applications.

The investment will include the installation of a world-class polyester film production line, which will combine a high level of technology with production efficiency. Mitsubishi intends to use this line to support the growth of its business in both the U.S. and overseas markets. The investment is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2017.

Mitsubishi Film’s other PET film plants are located in Japan, China, Indonesia and Germany. The parent company Mitsubishi Chemical Holding Corp. has annual sales exceeding $40 billion.

For more information on Mitsubishi Polyester Film, visit www.m-petfilm.com.