Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Starts Operation at New U.S. Base to Strengthen Its Electronic Materials Business Ajinomoto Fine-Techno USA Corporation

TOKYO, April 13, 2016 – Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (“Ajinomoto Co.”) has established Ajinomoto Fine-Techno USA Corporation in Silicon Valley in California, U.S.A. and started full-scale operation on April 1, 2016 to strengthen promotion of its existing electronic materials products and activities to create new products and businesses, as well as to collect the latest information on electronic materials.

Ajinomoto Co.’s electronic materials business began with the development of a curing agent for epoxy resin in the 1960s as one aspect of its research into the use of monosodium glutamate
(AJI-NO-MOTO^®), which is one of the amino acids. Ajinomoto Co. then used the resin compounding technology it had accumulated over many years to promote the development of high-performance insulating materials. In 1998, it was the first in the world to make film from liquid resin, which was previously considered difficult, and launched ABF (Ajinomoto Build-up Film) in the same year. Since then, ABF has been widely used as an insulating material for semiconductor packaging owing to its high performance and production efficiency.

Today, ABF, which is a mainstay product of Ajinomoto Co.’s electronic materials business, is primarily used as an interlayer insulating material in substrates of semiconductor packages for computers and has the top share in its field, mainly for central processing unit (CPU) applications. Ajinomoto Co. aims to maintain ABF’s top share in the computer field and expand its share in new fields such as smartphones. It is also strengthening its activities to create new products and businesses for electronics and information-related industries, where technological innovation is rapid, in the fields of social infrastructure, including health, medicine and energy, and smart appliances. Centered on the base it has established in Silicon Valley, which is at the forefront of the world’s electronics and information-related markets, Ajinomoto Co. will further enhance communication with customers to deepen its business style oriented toward co-development with its customers.

The Ajinomoto Group is pursuing specialty in electronic materials and other specialty chemical business fields based on the policy of “FIT & GROW with Specialty” in its FY2014-2016 Medium-Term Management Plan. By deepening its business style oriented toward co-development with its customers, the Ajinomoto Group will use its technologies to contribute to better living.

Reference

(1) Product:

A film made of insulating material enclosed between two protective sheets. A substrate for semiconductor packages is created by layering printed circuits (copper laminate) and insulating materials in a process called the “build-up” method.

(2) Manufacturing method:

Raw resin, solvent, powder and other materials are combined to manufacture a liquid mixture called varnish, which is then spread thinly to form a film as the solvent evaporates.

(3) Applications:

Used as an insulating material to prevent electrical current from passing between the printed circuit layers (copper) to incorporate complex wiring in a semiconductor mounted substrate.

(4) Ajinomoto Co.’s Technological Advantages:

Ajinomoto Co. is a global manufacturer of high-quality seasonings, processed foods, beverages, amino acids, pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals. For many decades Ajinomoto Co. has contributed to food culture and human health through wide-ranging application of amino acid technologies. Today, the company is becoming increasingly involved with solutions for improved food resources, human health and global sustainability. Founded in 1909 and now operating in 27 countries and regions, Ajinomoto Co. had net sales of JPY 1,006.6 billion (USD 9.17 billion) in fiscal 2014. For more about Ajinomoto Co. (TYO: 2802), visit www.ajinomoto.com.

Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Public Communications Department;pr_info@ajinomoto.com