Business History

Kyowa Gas Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. was established by multiple investors to manufacture chemicals using natural gas produced in Niigata. Investors: Nippon Mining, Kyowa Hakko Kogyo, Musashino Chemical Laboratory

Started production of cyanide derivatives such as methyl methacrylate (MMA) and cyanuric chloride (~terminated in 1997)

Kuraray takes equity stake in Kyowa Gas Chemical Industry Co.
(Construction of the PVOH plant began in 1961, and production of KURARAY PVOH™ began in May 1962.)

Started production of acetylene (raw material for poval) (- ended in 1983)
Methanol production began (~1982 end)

Production of ammonium sulfate began.
Kyosei Chemical Co., Ltd. was established as a joint venture between Kyosei and Dainichisei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

Omiya Research Center established (-1994, moved to and integrated with Tsukuba Research Center)

Niigata Kasei Co., Ltd. established; tie-up with Midorikawa Kasei Kogyo Co.

Production of methacrylic acid (MAA) began.　
Commenced production of COMOGLAS™ (extruded methacrylic resin sheets)

PARAPET™ (methacrylic resin PMMA) production began.

Began production of KYOWAGLAS-XA™ (lead-containing acrylic resin sheets).

Established Nihonkai Acetylene Co., Ltd. as a joint venture with Toho Acetylene Co.

Participation in Japan-Saudi Arabia Methanol (JSMC)

Started production of plastic scintillators

Started sales of KYOWA LIGHT NOBLE™ (acrylic artificial marble) (discontinued in 2022). Started production of PSF (Plastic Scintillating Fiber).

Started manufacturing opto-screens (~end of 2006)
Established Kyodo Monomer Co., Ltd. as a 50-50 joint venture with Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals Co.

Kuraray and Kyowa Gas Chemical Industry merge

Kyodo Monomer (Takaishi, Osaka) began MMA production

Ltd. established in China as a manufacturing base for methacrylic resin sheet.

Sold its interest in Kyodo Monomer Co.

Began production of PARAMIGHTY™ (PMMA/PC multilayer sheet)

Production of PARAPURE™ (acrylic film) began.

Withdrew from artificial marble business.

Commenced production of environmentally friendly methacrylic resin sheets (COMOGLAS™) RE

Methacrylic Resin Molding Materials PARAPET™ at Niigata Plant Obtains ISCC-PLUS Certification

Began production of ABSM2 PMMA/ABS multi-layered plastic sheets PARAFORMING™

Methacrylic resin sheet production subsidiary in China: Transfer of operations of Kuraray Acrylic (Zhangjiagang) Co., Ltd.