1970s
Kuraray commercialized the world’s first synthetic isoprene chemical products and established a series of new businesses in the 1970s. These included the gas barrier resin EVAL, medical businesses such as contact lens, artificial organs and dental materials, as well as a nonwoven fabric business (through a joint venture with an overseas company).
- 1970
- Company name changed to Kuraray Co., Ltd.
Established representative office in Hong Kong (office functions transferred to Kuraray Hong Kong Co., Ltd. in 1998).
- 1971
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Jointly established the nonwoven fabric manufacturing firm Kuraray-Chicopee Co., Ltd. (absorbed into Kuraray in 1987) jointly with Johnson & Johnson of the U.S.
Kuraray-Chicopee Co., Ltd.
- 1972
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Commercialized contact lenses.
Established Kuraray-Hydron Medical Co., Ltd. (absorbed into Kuraray in 1987) jointly with Hydron Pacific, Ltd. of the U.S.
Commercialized EVOH resin EVAL.
Started production of EVOH resin (Okayama) and EVOH film (Kurashiki: transferred to Okayama in 1985).
Commercialized nonwoven fabrics.
Kuraray-Chicopee began producing dry-laid nonwoven fabric KURAFLEX (Okayama).
Commercialized isoprene chemicals.
Started production of polyisoprene rubber at the Kashima Plant.
Isoprene rubber plant
- 1973
- Exported ethylene method vinyl acetate and PVA manufacturing plants to China.
- 1974
- Exported natural gas method PVA manufacturing plant to China.
Commercialized wet-laid KURALON long staple fiber (Okayama).
- 1975
- President Tsugio Okabayashi took office.
- 1976
- Commercialized artificial organs.
Began sales of KC series of artificial kidneys.
Commercialized new isoprene chemicals (Nakajo).
Commercialized hollow fiber industrial filter membranes made of PVA.
- 1977
- Established Kuraray Engineering Co., Ltd.
- 1978
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Commercialized dental materials.
Commenced sales of adhesive dental filler CLEARFIL.
Established Nihonkai Acetylene Co., Ltd.
Exported man-made leather plant to China.
Commercialized artificial kidneys using EVAL hollow fiber membrane.
CLEARFIL
