Dutch multinational Royal DSM has completely and officially exited from the field of solar manufacturing after it completed the sale of its Advanced Solar business to US based polymer technologies company Worthen Industries on June 3, 2021. Through this business stream, the Dutch company was actively supplying solar backsheets.
Under Worthen Industries, Endurans Solar’s portfolio will comprise fully recyclable Endurans backsheets (previously known as DSM Endurance backsheet) and Endurans conductive backsheets.
Working as a wholly owned subsidiary of Worthen Industries, Endurans Solar, it will continue to serve all existing DSM Advanced Solar customers with sales, development and production teams in China, India, Belgium, Netherlands and the USA.
“This new business will now focus on continued investment in new solar innovations that meet the evolving commercial needs of its customers; while also delivering on Worthen Industries’ long-standing commitment to a more sustainable world,” explained Worthen Industries.
Royal DSM had entered into an agreement to sell the backsheet business to Worthen Industries in March 2021 for an undisclosed sum. The step is part of the Dutch company’s plans to sell off its Resins and Functional Materials businesses under which it had already divested the stake in its solar coatings segment to Germany’s Covestro in October 2020 (see Dutch Chemicals Company Exits Solar Coatings Business).
The announcement about the sale of the backsheet division came only shortly after the  Dutch company launched its new endurance backsheet D15 in November 2020 (see New Endurance Backsheet Launched By Royal DSM).
Worthen Industries is already active in the backsheet and encapsulant business through a portfolio company called Tomark Worthen.
TaiyangNews came out with our Market Survey on Backsheets and Encapsulation 2020 in October 2020, including products from DSM. It can be downloaded for free here.  Our 2021 edition will be published in the summer of 2021.