Leadership Spotlight: Built on Integrity. Sustained by People. Leading into the Next Century
Kuraray turns 100 this year. What started as a modest venture has grown into a global manufacturer that supplies materials found in everything from medical intravenous (IV) bags to car interiors. And through it all, the company has attracted dedicated professionals who stay for decades simply because they love what they do.
As General Manager of the Elastomers business unit, and an employee of Kuraray America, Inc. for nearly 23 years, I've had a front-row seat to much of that growth, and I've learned a great deal along the way.
A Business Built on Consistency and Competition
The Elastomers business unit has always operated in a highly competitive market. From established competitors with deep roots in the technology to growing pressure from lower-cost producers in Asia, the team has continued to adapt, improve and differentiate itself.
I believe competition sharpens you. It forces you to be better, more innovative and more disciplined than you thought possible. One of the things I'm most proud of is that our product, SEPTON™, is the most consistent material of its kind.
Team members in photo, L to R: Brian Chapman, Amanda Marques Venâncio, Nicolas Dulcic Ralph Boehm, Daiki Sumita, Tatsuyuki Abe
Our customers know the material they receive in July will perform the same as what they received in February. That consistency is the result of decades of continuous improvement, tight product specifications and a team that genuinely cares about getting it right.
The Applications That Drive Us Forward
SEPTON™ is an elastomeric material. It can be processed like plastic but performs like elastic. That versatility has fueled consistent market growth since the 1980s. Today, SEPTON™ shows up more places than you would expect. You can find it in baby care products, footwear, adhesives, automotive applications, medical devices, and food packaging.
One of our most exciting growth areas is electric vehicles. Because combustion doesn’t happen under the hood of an EV, temperatures are significantly lower, making our materials well-suited for wiring and interior applications. SEPTON™ doesn’t feel like plastic. It is soft and silky to the touch, which makes it ideal for interior surfaces that people touch every day.
Sustainability as a Business Imperative
Sustainability is a top priority for the Kuraray Group. We’ve worked hard to reduce production emissions, cut energy and steam consumption, and run pallet recycling programs with customers. Our products are recyclable, which means our customers can work scrap right back into their processes, reducing waste across the supply chain.
In addition, we’ve worked with farnesene for the past 15 years. This sugarcane-derived raw material serves as a bio-based alternative to one of our traditional oil-derived inputs. The resulting products have strong technical advantages, including better grip performance in cold and icy conditions for tires. Plus, these products have a significantly lower carbon emissions profile.
What Keeps People Here
I often get asked why so many of our employees have been with the Elastomers business unit for 15 years or more. My answer: The culture.
When I joined, we were a small, independent entity called Septon Company of America with about 40-45 employees who formed our own tight-knit culture. That family-oriented spirit never left us. We’re serious when we need to be, and we have fun when we can. Most important, people feel trusted, heard and empowered.
I believe that empowerment not only boosts morale but enhances productivity. If someone feels they can’t ask a question or make a decision without fear, it creates bottlenecks that slows everything down. I tell every person on my team, ”If you see something that doesn’t look right, especially on the safety side, you have the authority to act.”
There is no retribution for raising a concern or sharing an idea that doesn’t pan out. The way we get better is through open, honest communication, and that starts at the top.
Team members in photo, L to R: Brian Chapman, Ralph Boehm, David Steinberg, Tatsuyuki Abe, Erich K.
Investing in the Community
The chemical industry in Houston, TX is fiercely competitive when it comes to hiring talent. Kuraray America is known as a company that truly invests in the people around it. Any advantage we can build through community relationships is one worth having.
About seven years ago, the production manager at our SEPTON plant wanted to lead an initiative to give back to the community. We created a scholarship program for students at Crosby High School, outside of Houston, that offers renewable two and four-year scholarships. Through this program, students have gone on to technical programs at San Jacinto College and four-year universities, including The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University.
Looking Ahead
If Kuraray's 1926 founders could visit us today, I think they’d be amazed. Not just by the global scale of what the company has become, but by the sophistication of the products we make and the markets we serve. What started 100 years ago has grown into something none of them could’ve predicted.
The work ahead is just as exciting as the century behind us. That means pursuing new applications, markets and technologies, while never losing the values at the core of Kuraray – consistency, safety, community and a team shows up every day ready to build something great.
Brian Chapman , General Manager of the Elastomers Business Unit at Kuraray America, Inc.