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About Us : Kuraray History
Kuraray Co., Ltd. was established in 1926 with the objective of commercializing rayon. In 1958 the Company commenced the manufacture and sale of poval, a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) resin used in the production of vinylon. In the ensuing years, the Company continued to build on the excellence of that technology to expand its presence in global markets. Subsequently, Kuraray initiated sales of highly original products including CLARINO™ man-made leather, the EVOH resin EVAL™, and isoprene, achieving major expansion as a chemical maker. The dental product CLEARFIL™ was introduced in 1978. KURALON™ for cement reinforcement was developed in 1983, three years before EVAL™ resin began production in the United States. The thermoplastic elastomer SEPTON™ began production in 1990. In 2001, mass-production facilities became operational for PVA gel and the heat-resistant polyamide resin, GENESTAR™.
Since 1983, rising concerns about the dangers of asbestos inhalation brought PVA fibers into the limelight as an asbestos replacement. The current generation of PVA fibers, KURALON K-II™, was introduced in 1998 and found success in a variety of applications, including earthquake-resistant curtain wall siding for skyscrapers. By 2001, Kuraray was shipping about 20,000 tons of PVA fiber globally for use in a wide range of cement applications.
In the fall of 2003, KURALON K-II™ structural fibers for concrete and mortar were released for distribution in the North American market after achieving considerable success in Asia and Europe.
Corporate website: kuraray.co.jp/en/ |
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Kuraray Co., Ltd. |
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