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.
Kuraray-Chicopee Co., Ltd.
- 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.
Isoprene rubber 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.
CLEARFIL™
