News
MAGIC TAPE
Kuraray Fastening Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Osaka, President: Mitsuhiko Takaoka; hereafter "Kuraray Fastening"), manufacturer and marketer of MAGIC TAPE and MAGILOCK, hook-and-loop fasteners announced its decision to reshape the production standards of all its woven MAGIC TAPE hook-and-loop fastener products with the aim of reducing the environmental burden of its operations. To this end, the Company has commenced a full-scale shift to Eco-Friendly MAGIC TAPE manufacturing methods that is planned for completion in fiscal 2009.
In line with the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and society's heightened awareness of global environmental issues, the Kuraray Group established the Medium-Term Environmental Plan (covering the years from fiscal 2001 to 2005) and is actively engaged in environmental preservation activities. Based on the policies of this plan, Kuraray works diligently to develop products compatible with the global environment.
In 2002, Kuraray Fastening opted for a complete switch to eco-friendly back coat agents free of such organic solvents as polyurethane resin that were previously used to reinforce the wrong side of woven hook-and-loop fasteners. In 2004, Kuraray Fastening perfected a new eco-friendly hook-and-loop fastener manufacturing methods that improved product quality and simultaneously eliminated the need for back coat agents, a development that later contributed to the launch of the Eco-Friendly MAGIC TAPE brand.
Using a CO2 calculator, the new production process, including the lifecycle of the product-from material fabrication to disposal-realizes a 30% (figure calculated by Kuraray on a standard product basis) reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when compared with previous back coat production methods using organic solvents. Inquiries regarding Kuraray's eco-friendly production from automobile makers, the IT industry and major sports apparel companies also wanting to reduce their contribution to global warming have increased along with Kuraray's development of antistatic, heat-resistant and high-durability and other differentiated series to meet user demand.
In fiscal 2008, Kuraray Fastening plans to continue to expand production of soft-hook type, raised-loop type, and combined hook-and-loop FREEMAGIC type products using this new manufacturing method. Kuraray Fastening will subsequently take steps to fully implement eco-friendly MAGIC TAPE production for all hook-and-loop fastener products.
Kuraray Fastening will continue to raise product quality and function levels while simultaneously working to expand the hook-and-loop fastener market and contribute to the environment through its new eco-friendly hook-and-loop fastener manufacturing method.
Product Overview
1. Features
- (1) Owing to the elimination of polyurethane resin as back coating, Eco-Friendly MAGIC TAPE realizes a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions throughout its all stages (from production to disposal) when compared to standard products with organic solvent containing back coats.
* Figures calculated by Kuraray and based on a standard 25mm-wide, one-meter long hook-and-loop fastener product unit. - (2) Safe, because it contains none of the following environmentally hazardous substances: Class 1 chemicals specified by the law (toluene, diethylaminoethanol, acrylamide, ethylene imine, etc); RoHS designated substances (cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead ,mercury, brominated flame retardants).
- (3) Because the material is polyester, it has excellent water resistance, and will therefore be suitable for outdoor sports apparel applications (decrease to 60% of existing nylon products.)
- (4) Because it contains no polyurethane resin, even without fire-retardant treatment it meets railway, automotive, and other flame-resistance specifications.
- (5) Because polyurethane resin is not used in the back coating and is made of polyester, it has better chemical and weather resistance and there is no fear of yellowing.
- (6) Because it comprises only a single polyester material, recyclability becomes possible.
- (7) Because it is lighter, thinner, and softer than previous materials, it will have a broader range of applications.
- (8) It is more easily applied than previous materials owing to a better sewn product and adhesive agents.
- (9) Allows significant reduction in manufacturing lead-time requirements in comparison with previous manufacturing processes.
2. Product Specifications
| (1) Width | 16, 20, 25, 30, 38, 50, 100 mm |
|---|---|
| (2) Length | 25 m/roll |
| (3) Material | 100% polyester |
| (4) Color | 40 standard colors available (Special colors by request) |
3. Sales Target (Width: 25 mm)
| Fiscal 2007 | 10,000,000 m |
|---|---|
| Fiscal 2009 | 50,000,000 m |
Kuraray Fastening Co., Ltd.
| 1. Headquarters | 1-12-39 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka (Shin-Hankyu Building, 9F) |
|---|---|
| 2. President | Mitsuhiko Takaoka |
| 3. Capital | ¥100 million |
| 4. Number of employees | 134 (as of March 31, 2007) |
| 5. Business activities | Manufacturing, development and sales of MAGIC TAPE woven hook-and-loop fastener, MAGILOCK extrusion-molded hook fastener and related products.
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- * MAGIC TAPE, MAGILOCK, ECOMAGIC, FREEMAGIC, New Eco-Friendly MAGIC TAPE and other such hook-and-loop fasteners made by Kuraray are registered trademarks.
