A new 50:50 joint venture between global polycarbonate market leaders Bayer (HQ: D-51368 Leverkusen) and Teijin Ltd. (Tokyo / Japan) will focus on developing a new type of PC resin for "next-generation data storage systems." The Japan-based company, Teijin-Bayer Polytec Ltd., will also link Bayer subsidiary, Bayer Ltd. Japan, and the Japanese group's offshoot Teijin Chemicals Ltd. Bayer said the alliance will have access to "the entire range of starting materials, as well as in-house engineering capabilities."

Both Bayer and Teijin already have been working independently on developing knowhow for future PC applications. Bayer recently joined forces with GE Plastics BV (GEP, PO Box 117, NL-4600 AC Bergen op Zoom) to develop polycarbonate for automotive glazing and last summer introduced a new material type, "Makrolon CD 2005, DP I-1265" for DVD discs. While declining to reveal a timetable for launching new optical products, Bayer said the German/Japanese cooperation, will focus on chemical modification of bisphenols. Joint production is a later option, but a location "has not yet been determined," according to the Leverkusen group.