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2000s

Photo Overseas expansion of key businesses in the 2000s

2000s

Kuraray accelerated overseas business development by acquiring a PVA-related business portfolio in Germany and starting SEPTON™ production in the U.S.

2000

  • President Yasuaki Wakui took office.
  • Commercialized new water-soluble resin EXCEVAL™ (Okayama).

2001

  • Withdrew from the rayon business.
  • Commercialized biocarrier for wastewater treatment KURAGEL™ (Saijo).
  • Established Kuraray Medical Inc.
  • Acquired the PVA-related operations of Clariant AG and transferred them to newly established manufacturing and sales company Kuraray Specialities Europe of Frankfurt, Germany.
Signing ceremony for the acquisition of Clariant’s PVA-related operations

2002

  • Established Shanghai Office.
  • SEPTON Company of America began manufacturing SEPTON™.
SEPTON Company of America

2003

  • A dirigible employing VECTRAN™ reached the stratosphere.
Dirigible employing VECTRAN™

2004

  • Kuraray Research and Technical Center U.S.A. commenced operations.
  • Enhanced the functions of the Tokyo Head Office and moved it to Otemachi in Chiyoda-ku.
  • Acquired the polyvinyl butyral (PVB) film business of HT Troplast AG. Operations commenced as a division of Kuraray Specialties Europe GmbH.
Kuraray Research & Technical Center in the U.S.

2005

  • Acquired the VECTRAN™ high-performance polyarylate fibers business of U.S.-based Celanese Advanced Materials Inc. Operations commenced as a division of Kuraray America Inc.

2006

  • Kuraray Europe GmbH absorbed Kuraray Specialities Europe GmbH.

2007

  • Created a new-generation Kurashiki Plant by moving a large proportion of operations to Tamashima from Sakazu in Kurashiki, where Kuraray was established.
    Opened Production and Technology Develpopment Center to consolidate development departments.
  • Changed stock industrial classification from Fibers and Textiles to Chemicals.
  • Began running television commercials with “new materials that transform the future” as the tagline.
Production and Technology Development Center opened at the Kurashiki Plant (Tamashima)

2008

  • Kuraray America, Inc. merged with Eval Company of America and SEPTON Company of America.
  • Acquired all outstanding shares of POVAL ASIA PTE. LTD. and made it a subsidiary.
  • President Fumio Ito took office.
  • Kuraray Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. launched in Singapore.

2009

  • Kuraray India Private Limited commenced operations.
  • Commercial launch of environmentally friendly man-made leather TIRRENINA™.
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