News

Kuraray Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Fumio Ito; "Kuraray") has announced that it has received the 2009 Technology Award from the Society of Fiber Science and Technology, Japan, for Kuraray's commercialization of its environment-friendly, organic solvent-free CLARINO man-made leather. The Technology Award was presented on June 16 at the 2010 Annual Convention of the Society of Fiber Science and Technology, Japan, held at Tower Hall Funabori in Tokyo.

The Society of Fiber Science and Technology, Japan, is an incorporated organization committed to supporting activities that target development in the composite and advanced engineering field based on fiber and textile-related basic science and technologies. The Technology Award is presented to members of the society in recognition of their development of outstanding fiber and textile-related technologies or other contributions to the development of the fiber and textile industry.

The Society of Fiber Science and Technology, Japan, has previously presented Kuraray with Technology Awards, as follows:

June 1999 KURALON K-Ⅱ, a new PVA fiber, developed and commercialized
June 1997 Disperse-dyeable rayon thread developed
June 1981 Ultra microcrater fiber developed
Environment-friendly, organic solvent-free CLARINO man-made leather
  • An environment-friendly man-made leather produced using the Kuraray-developed, industry-first CLARINO Advanced Technology Systems (Location: Kuraray Co., Ltd., Okayama Plant, Okayama City)
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) significantly reduced since no organic solvent is required in the production process (a reduction of over 99% compared with Kuraray's existing processes)
  • Production time can be shortened to as little as approximately one-fifth as long, CO2 emissions reduced approximately 35%, and drainage water cut 70% (compared with Kuraray's conventional processes)
  • Offers a rich texture, luxurious sensation and lustrous appearance that are close to that of natural leather