About Kuraray

Kuraray Co., Ltd. engages in the manufacture and sale of fibers, resins, chemicals, high performance materials, and medical products. The company operates in three segments: chemicals and resins segment, fibers and textiles segment, and high-performance materials, medical products, and others segment. Chemicals and Resins Segment The company’s primary products in the chemicals and resins business are based on vinyl acetate, isoprene, and methyl methacrylate (MMA). The company’s principal product offerings through its chemicals and resins segment include: Kuraray Poval; Mowiol; Kuraray Poval film; Exceval; Ethylene-viny acetate copolymer emulsion; Mowital; Eval; New EVOH barrier resin Septon; Hybrar; LIR, Isobam; Thermoplastic polyurethane Aroma chemicals and cosmetics Pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical intermediates Industrial cleaner; Industrial alcohols, diols; Methyl methacrylate; Methacrylic resin Methacrylic resin sheets; Methacryl synthetic marble PET resin; and Resin and rubber finished goods products. The company’s isoprene-related products include polymers, such as liquid isoprene rubber and the elastomers SEPTON and HYBRAR, in addition to monomers, such as aroma chemicals, pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical intermediates, and raw materials for chemical products. Methacrylate-related products are used in living spaces, such as transparent and weather resistant resins and sheets, and synthetic marble with excellent workability and durability. Poval Resin: Polyvinyl alcohol fiber is used in various applications, including use as a fiber-sizing agent, an adhesive, a paper-processing agent, a raw material for butyral, and as polarized film for LCDs. Butyral Resin: Kuraray markets polyvinyl butyral resins under the trade name MOWITAL. Major applications are anticorrosive coatings, printing inks, ceramic binders, and inter-layers for shatterproof laminated safety glass for automotive and architectural glazing. Poval Film: Utilizing poval’s transparency, dyeability, anti-static properties, stretchability, and molecular orientation, it is used as a base for the polarized film needed in LCD manufacturing. It is used in LCD televisions and other LCD devices, as well as increasing screen size. Water-soluble film, employing poval’s most significant characteristic—its water solubility—is used in curved-surface printing applications. EVAL (Food packaging): EVAL has the highest gas impermeability of any plastic. When used as a food packaging material, therefore, this resin is extremely effective at preventing the passage of oxygen, and therefore at preventing oxidation and deterioration of the contents. Its applications include food packaging material. EVAL (Other applications): EVAL is used to make plastic fuel tanks, where its high gas impermeability protects the environment by preventing volatilized gasoline from leaking into the atmosphere. In addition, EVAL is used in wallpaper and similar applications because of its resistance to soiling. Acrylic Resin and Sheets (General purpose): Methacrylic resin’s transparency and weather resistance are among the highest of any plastic. It is used in lighting fixtures, signboards, construction materials, aquaria, and automotive applications. Optical-Use Acrylic: The Company is offering its products with light guides and diffusion plates for LCD devices, opto-screens and antireflection front plates for rear-projection televisions, and other high-performance, optical components. SEPTON: With the elasticity of rubber and as moldable as plastic, the thermoplastic elastomer SEPTON is used as a substitute for vulcanized rubber and polyvinyl chloride in electronics materials, construction materials, tools, stationery, toys, and various other applications. HYBRAR: Kuraray has developed thermoplastic elastomer, based on SEPTON technology but with shock-absorbing properties. This material is used in sporting goods, and auto parts. Isoprene Specialty Chemicals: The company’s FineTop industrial cleaner is a safe and easy-to-handle cleaner with a host of industrial uses, and has excellent detergent properties. Aroma Chemicals: The company uses isoprene to manufacture approximately 30 aroma chemicals and base oils for use in cosmetics and toiletries, including Linalool (lily of the valley scented) and Citral (lemon scented). Pharmaceutical Intermediates: Kuraray produces intermediates for anti-viral agents, anti-hypertension agents, antibiotics, and other pharmaceuticals using its fine-chemical technology. Fibers and Textiles Segment The company’s principal product offerings through its fibers and textiles segment include: Kuralon; Kuralon K-II; Polyster; Vectran Magic tape; Molded plastic hook fastener Kuraflex; Melt-blown non-woven fabrics Clarino, Parcassio; and Amaretta products. The company’s product offerings in the domestic market incorporate the natural world, and the dry-laid non-woven fabric KURAFLEX, which displays excellent absorbency, air permeability, and plasticity. CLARINO: CLARINO is used in applications ranging from sports shoes, street shoes for ladies and gentlemen, clothing, interior furnishings, bags, and sporting goods to industrial materials. Kuraray has also developed the new material, PARCASSIO, which boasts improved air and moisture permeability. AMARETTA: AMARETTA is a man-made leather made from microfiber, which is used to manufacture up-market coats and jackets, AMARETTA is also used to upholster sofas and in other interior furnishing applications. KURALON and KURALON K-II: KURALON’s characteristics include high strength, low elasticity, hydrophilic properties, alkali compatibility, and weather resistance. This makes it suitable for use in industrial materials. It is essential in the manufacture of high-pressure hoses and as a cement-reinforcing agent. KURALON K-II is water soluble at any temperature and has high strength. It is in the limelight as a fiber that allows new design concepts and has applications in a number of industries. New Polyesters: Kuraray is developing fibers and textiles for use in clothing, by blending polyester with the company’s proprietary polymers. The EVAL blend SOPHISTA, a material with a cool feel, and the EXCEVAL blend Mint series of lightweight fabrics are growing in popularity. KURAFLEX: Kuraray’s KURAFLEX drylaid nonwoven fabric is used in disposable sanitary products, and the company is developing high-order blended products using its proprietary polymers. Hook and Loop Fasteners: Kuraray’s hook and loop fasteners are used in clothing, shoes, bags, medical products, and various industrial fields. The company has licensed injection molded hook (IMH) technology for one-piece production of molded plastic hook elements. High-Performance Materials, Medical Products, and Others Segment The company’s principal product offerings through its materials, medical products, and others segment include: PVA gel; Industrial filter membranes; Genestar OPT screens; Liquid crystalline polymer film Hybrid fiber based on liquid crystalline polymer Liquid crystalline polymar non-woven fabric; Stampers Dental materials; Medical devices and materials Contact lenses; Kuraray Coal; and Engineering products. The company has used its original polymer chemistry technology to develop such products as artificial kidneys, which display biocompatibility with blood, and contact lenses that are gentle on the eye, made primarily from fluorinated resin. The company has developed hollow fiber membranes for water purification, PVA gel using poval as the raw material for wastewater treatment, and activated carbon for removing contaminants from gases and liquids. Opto-screens: Optoscreens have two lens surfaces, a Fresnel lens and a lenticular lens, and this is another place where Kuraray’s superior precision molding technology contributes to improved picture quality. The company is developing new products for microdisplay RPTVs. GENESTAR: GENESTAR is a heat and abrasion resistant polyamide resin developed by Kuraray, which is used in thin-walled, narrow pitch SMT connectors for computer devices. This is a durable resin that can withstand conditions in automobile engine compartments and other severe conditions. Expectations that GENESTAR would become an important material in the automotive industry are rising. VECSTAR: Electronic devices are becoming both smaller and more capable, and this is creating the need for circuitboard substrate materials that have low water absorbency, the right electrical characteristics, and dimensional stability. Liquid crystalline polymer film VECSTAR is attracting notice in this connection. Dental Materials and SE Bond: Kuraray has developed dental adhesives and filling resins. These are highly regarded for their adhesive properties, wealth of varieties, and ease of use. Demand for these products is growing in the world dental materials markets as a result of their reputation for quality and functionality, beginning with the U.S. and Europe. Artificial Organs: EVAL is used to manufacture filter membranes for artificial kidneys, which remove toxic substances from the blood when kidneys are not functioning properly. EVAL is highly compatible with blood, so dialyzers using these filters are easy on the patient. Activated Carbon: Kuraray’s proprietary technology for controlling the diameter and volume of pores in the surface of activated carbon allows a heightened response to growing environmental concerns in areas ranging from household water purifiers to municipal and industrial water-treatment, air purification, and electrode material for capacitors in fuel cell powered automobiles. Markets The company principally markets its products in Japan, Europe, U.S., North America, and in Asia, principally in China, Korea, and Taiwan. Significant Events The company has established a wholly owned subsidiary in India dubbed Kuraray India, which would be involved in the sale of Kuraray group products in India and also market development activities, the subsidiary would begin operation with the sales and marketing of Kuraray's polyvinyl alcohol related products. History Kuraray Co., Ltd. was established in 1926 in Kurashiki, Okayama.