Kuraray is a Japanese producer of petrochemical intermediates, resins, elastomers, fibres, high performance materials and medical products. It holds strong market positions in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) resins and films, methacrylic resins, gas barrier resins and styrene elastomers. The company has two head offices based in Tokyo and Osaka, with around 6,861 employees. It has plants situated at Kurashiki, Saijo, Okayama, Niigata and Kashima. 
History
Kuraray was established in 1926 in Kurashiki City with the objective of commercialising rayon. Following World War II, the company commercialised the synthetic fibre Kuralon and developed a series of businesses, including the man-made leather Clarino. This was developed as a substitute for natural leather, polyester textiles, non-woven fabrics Kuraflex, and magic tape hook-and-loop fastener material.
In the chemicals and functional materials fields, the company’s products include Poval resin, with its water soluble and adhesive properties; the efficient gas barrier material Eval, which is claimed to be the ‘world’s only synthetic’ isoprene chemical products; methacrylic resin, which has special optical properties; and medical products such as dental materials and artificial kidneys.
Kuraray is split into the following three business segments:
Chemicals and Resins
Methacrylate division – this division handles materials ranging from methyl methacrylate monomer to methacrylic resin (moulding material, sheets), methacrylic synthetic marble, opto-screens and stamped product.
Through the application of proprietary stamper technology, Kuraray claims to have a large share of the market for LCD backlighting device light-guide plates.
Chemicals division - using the C4 fraction that is a by-product of naphtha cracking as the primary raw material and applying its proprietary technology, Kuraray is developing a new C4 derivative. Specifically, the company is developing its fine chemicals business, which encompasses commodity chemicals, functional specialty chemicals, aroma chemicals, and pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical intermediates.
The division has manufacturing facilities at Kashima (Ibaraki Prefecture) and Niigata (Niigata Prefecture).
Its core products include industrial cleaner, industrial alcohols, diols, raw materials for aroma chemicals and cosmetics and pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical intermediates.
Elastomer division - Kuraray was launched into the elastomer business in 1972 when the Kashima plant began commercial manufacturing of isoprene rubber, and has since gone on to develop various elastomers and polymers. Today it manufactures and markets core products Septon and Hybrar (a hydrogenated styrene elastomer), liquid isoprene rubber, TP (a special isoprene resin), Isoban (used in adhesives and dispersing agents), KI Gel (a highly water absorbent resin), and Kuramiron (thermoplastic polyurethane).
Poval Resin and Poval Film - the company’s core resin and film business, focus on Poval, Poval film, and related businesses. It provides products to a variety of industries, including the information media, chemical, automotive, and IT-related sectors.
Its core products include Poval resin (PVA resin), Mowiol (Poval resin sold by Kuraray Specialities Europe), Poval film (PVA film), Mowital (PVB resin sold by Kuraray Specialities Europe), Exceval (new water-soluble resin) and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer emulsion.
Eval - Eval resin is a functional resin offering gas barrier effectiveness that is unrivalled among plastics. Because it shuts out oxygen, thereby protecting contents of a container against deterioration or degradation, it has a wide range of applications. For example, it is used in packaging of mayonnaise, ketchup, and other foods available in retort pouches, as well as for cosmetics and pharmaceutical product containers.
It is also developing new outlets, including for Eval automotive plastic fuel tanks, which prevent leakage of harmful hydrocarbons given off by gasoline.
Besides its use as a packaging material for such foods as processed meat and fish, Eval film is also being developed for use in wall coverings, taking advantage of its dirt-resistant properties.
Kuraray, which claims the largest market share in the world for Eval, has a production capacity of around 57,000 tonnes/year. It is also committing resources to the development of new applications in addition to food packaging.
Fibres and textiles
Fibres and Industrial Materials - Commercialised by Kuraray, Kuralon was the first synthetic fibre to be made in Japan. Its major applications include use as a fibre-reinforced cement (FRC) in place of asbestos, which is considered harmful to the body. It is also used as a water-soluble fibre used for making knitted fabrics, fishing nets and ropes, and for automotive brake hoses.
Clarino - Clarino is a man-made leather that possesses the same qualities as natural leather.
It has a wide variety of applications, ranging from handbags, schoolbags and sporting goods (balls and gloves) through to apparel and interior furnishings, where it is used as an alternative to natural leather.
Kuraray Kuraflex - The non-woven fabrics Kuraflex are used in an extremely wide variety of applications, from lifestyle products to industrial materials and the medical field.
The company also sells Kuralon cotton for use in cell separators, as well as polyester cotton and raw cotton for use in non-woven fabrics.
Kuraray Fastening – this company deals in the manufacturing, development and sale of Magic Tape fabric hook and loop fastening material, extrusion moulded hook fastener, and other hook and loop fastener-related products.
High-Performance Materials, Medical Products and Others
Genestar – this division plans to play a key role in the electronic information field and is promoting and expanding projects accordingly.
Its core product is Genestar (heat-resistant polyamide resin). Genestar was developed by combining Kuraray’s polymer technology with its synthetic technology. The latter includes a technology for commercialising oxo reactions and butadiene hydrodimerisation using new catalysts.
Recently, polyamide resins have earned high acclaim for use in electronic and electrical parts, where heat resistance is becoming increasingly important, as well as in automotive parts, where their abrasion resistance plays a key role. They are also regarded as having great potential as raw materials for use in fibres. The division is building a sizeable business to capitalise on the future potential of this product.
Other key products include Vecry for the use in plasma display panels, Vecstar, used in circuit-board material, along with PVA gel, activated carbon and dental materials such as adhesives amongst others.