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 (Production ended 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.)

Began production of acetylene, a raw material for Poval™ (production ended in 1983).
Methanol production began (Production ended in 1982).

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

Established the Omiya Research Center (closed in 1994; functions transferred to and integrated into the Tsukuba Research Center).

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

Began production of methacrylic acid (MAA).
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).

Began production of plastic scintillators.

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

Began 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 PMMA/ABS multilayer sheets.

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