1970s
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
- Jointly established the nonwoven fabric manufacturing firm Kuraray-Chicopee Co., Ltd. (absorbed into Kuraray in 1987) jointly with Johnson & Johnson of the U.S.
1972
- 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.
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
- 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.
