Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.

As a pioneer of plastic products

Established in order to run a general plastic business. Received the first injection molding machine produced in Japan, and started Japan's first automatic plastic injection molding business in 1948 after receiving orders from THE SAILOR PEN CO., LTD. for ball-point pen barrels.

Opened Nara Plant (until 1957), and started the first automatic plastic injection molding business in Japan. Changed company name to SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.

Opened Osaka Plant (until 1971), and started production of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and lead acetate.

Commenced trial production of cellophane tape at Osaka Plant.

As a pioneer of plastic products

Birth of Cellophane Tape. Cellophane Tape is one of SEKISUI CHEMICAL Group's longest-selling products. Following WWII, SEKISUI CHEMICAL Group grew interested in the adhesive tape on envelopes brought here by the U.S. occupation army, and commenced R&D activities before achieving practical use of the tape. Since then, SEKISUI CHEMICAL Group has accumulated a number of adhesive and coating technologies.

Exhibited prototype of cellophane tape at the Plastics Exhibition held at the Hankyu Department Store in Osaka.

Developed an “unbreakable telephone” using thermoplastic (awarded the Industrial Technology Agency Minister Award) and Japan's first 12-ounce injection molding machine, marking the start of the growth of our injection molding business.

Opened Kyoto Plant, and commenced full-scale production of ESLON Pipe, a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe.

Listed on Osaka Securities Exchange (currently Osaka Exchange, Inc.)

Opened Amagasaki Plant, and commenced production of plastic tape, and polyethylene film the following year.

Opened Tokyo Plant (until 2015), and commenced production of molded plastic products, becoming the source of supply for the Kanto region.

Listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange (currently Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc.)

Established Adoheya-kako Corporation (currently SEKISUI JUSHI CO.,LTD.)

Succeeded in injection molding of PVC pipe fittings and obtained certification from the Bureau of Waterworks, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which played an important role in the popularization of ESLON Pipe

Opened Osaka Asahi Plant, and developed ESLON Rain Gutter, Japan's first plastic rain gutters; opened Central Research Laboratory (currently: Research & Development Institute) within Osaka Asahi Plant; Osaka Plant renamed to Osaka Izuo Plant

Launched Poly-Bucket, a polyethylene bucket

Opened new plant in Nara and transferred over molding facilities from old Nara Plant, becoming Asia's top plastic molding plant (at that time)

Commenced production of S-LEC Film, an interlayer film for laminated glass, which was commercialized the following year

Established SEKISUI SPONGE INDUSTRIES CO., LTD. (currently SEKISUI PLASTICS CO., LTD.)

On the path of growth

Completed prototype of Sekisui House Model A; established housing division

Opened Shiga Ritto Plant, and commenced production of PVC pipes and PVC building materials; Separated SEKISUI CHEMICAL's housing division to establish SEKISUI HOUSE SANGYO CO., LTD. (currently SEKISUI HOUSE, LTD.)

Opened Shiga Minakuchi Plant, and commenced production of polyvinyl butyral and interlayer films; The interlayer film is currently one of the leading products of SEKISUI CHEMICAL Group. Because of the refined material and processing technologies, demand for the product started rapidly increasing when first registered in 1987 in Japan.

Opened Central Research Laboratory at Minase Osaka

Commenced production of Poly-Pail, a plastic garbage bin, at Nara Plant; In the 1960s, the Tokyo Metropolitan government adopted a new garbage collection system. According to the new system each household would place its garbage in a Poly-Pail bucket outside its house, which garbage trucks would then collect. SEKISUI CHEMICAL Group commenced a campaign as a proposed activity to raise awareness of consumers of the garbage issue.

Launched the "Clean up our streets" movement as a campaign commemorating our 15th anniversary, which started a cleaning revolution across Japan using Poly-Pails

Opened Musashi Plant, and commenced production of plastic tape and PVC tape

Commenced production of SEKISUI Bath, the first FRP bathtub made using press forming in Japan

Established SEKISUI PLASTICS CORPORATION in Pennsylvania, U.S., for the production of expandable polystyrene paper (first entry into the U.S. by a Japanese manufacturer)

Established TOKUYAMA SEKISUI INDUSTRY CO., LTD., and commenced production of polyvinyl chloride resin

First drop in income, deficit, and nonpayment of dividends since being established Reduced capital by half in 1967

Organized SEKISUI Tentomushi Matsuri ("Ladybird Festival") in various parts of Japan; SEKISUI brand gained foothold as a name for high-quality household plastic products

Commenced SOFTLON polyolefin foam business, and sunoko bathroom mats won widespread popularity

Promoting diversification

Opened Sakai Plant (until 2007), and commenced production of plasticizers

Exhibited SEKISUI HEIM, a prefabricated modular house, at the International Good Living Show in Tokyo

Completed assembly plant for steel-frame prefabricated modular house SEKISUI HEIM at Musashi Plant in March; full-scale entry into housing business with launch of SEKISUI HEIM in June; SEKISUI HEIM used prefabricated modules, and more than 80 percent of its process was done at the factory, and thereby achieving high quality, high performance, and high cost performance. This method successfully attracted attention within Japan's housing industry, which had been urged to supply reasonably priced but high quality houses. It was not long before SEKISUI HEIM to become one of the leading pre-fab housing manufacturers.

Established NASEKI INDUSTRY CO., LTD. (currently SEKISUI HEIM INDUSTRY CO., LTD.)

Shifted head office to Dojima Kanden Building (currently Osaka Head Office)

Established SAN-ES HEIM MANUFACTURING CO., LTD. (currently SEKISUI HEIM INDUSTRY CO., LTD.)

Commenced full-scale production of synthetic lumber FFU. ESLON Neo Lumber FFU is a lightweight and corrosion-resistant but natural-wood-like texture material that is strengthened using long glass fibers of rigid urethane foam. These features have allowed the material to become widely used in various fields, which, among others, is favorably used as railroad sleepers not only in Japan but also all over the world.

Launched ESLON RCP, a reinforced plastic composite pipe

Commercialized Micropearl, a functional plastic particle. Micropearl features micro-level fine particles of equal size and the added value of various functions, and has contributed to improving quality of display devices such as liquid crystal panels.

Started the medical project within the Central Research Laboratory

Awarded the Deming Prize, the highest honor for total quality management from production to sales and service

Promoting diversification

Adopted system of two head offices, one in Tokyo and another in Osaka; Tokyo Head Office opened at Toranomon, Tokyo

Launched wooden-frame prefabricated modular house Two-U Home at Sendai; subsequently launched nationwide in Japan in 1984

Opened Gunma Plant, and commenced production of PVC pipe and exterior paneling for prefabricated modular houses

Established SEKISUI AMERICA CORPORATION in the United States

Launched Insepack, the world's first unbreakable plastic vacuum blood collection tube. SEKISUI CHEMICAL Group organized a medical project in 1979 and launched the world’s first plastic vacuum-blood-collection tubes in 1985. The unbreakable but burnable tubes greatly contributed to improving hygiene.

Brought in production method from Rib Loc Systems, located in the Netherlands, and developed the SPR method for pipeline renewal. SEKISUI CHEMICAL Group quickly responded to the aging infrastructure issue. The SPR method allows operation without having to dig while maintaining the sewage flow, can be used to refresh old pipes to the level of new pipes in terms of durable years, and, thus, now it is one of the standard sewage pipe rehabilitation methods in Japan.

Opened Applied Electronics Research Center (currently Advanced Technology Institute, R&D Center)

Opened Nitta Plant (until 2007)

Selection, consolidation, pushing forward

Kleerdex Company, LLC (name changed to KYDEX, LLC in 2009; merged with ALLEN Extruders, LLC in 2014; currently SEKISUI POLYMER INNOVATIONS, LLC) joined SEKISUI CHEMICAL Group

Opened Housing Research & Development Institute (currently Housing Technology Institute)

Established Kyoto Technology Center (currently Kyoto R&D Laboratories)

Launched three-stories house "DESIO", which was the first house to be fitted with a home elevator as standard, as a commemorative product for 25th anniversary of the housing business

Developed and produced Japan's first polyethylene water pipe

Housing Research & Development Institute awarded Award from the Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office for design of HEIM Serano

Full-scale entry into refurbishing business (Fami S business)

It became 100 billion yen (current capital)

Established new corporate logo

Strengthened development and sale of fireproof and non-flammable products by purchasing Soflan Wiz Co., Ltd. (currently SEKISUI SOFLAN WIZ CO., LTD.)

Developed the World's First Innovative Production Technology that Transforms Waste into Ethanol

Acquisition of all the shares in VEREDUS LABORATORIES PTE. LTD., a genetic testing Company in Singapore

Management integration of production subsidiaries in Urban Infrastructure & Environmental Products Company, established HIGASHI NIHON SEKISUI INDUSTRY CO., LTD.

Management integration of production subsidiaries in Urban Infrastructure & Environmental Products Company, established NISHI NIHON SEKISUI INDUSTRY CO., LTD.

Start of SEKISUI's SMARTHEIM DENKI Power Trading Service for customers living in SEKISUI HEIM

Release of complex large-scale town “Asaka Lead Town” of SEKISUI CHEMICAL Group's Urban Development

Tokyo Head Office Relocation to The Okura Prestige Tower

Acquired manufacturer of composite mold materials for aircraft and drones AIM Aerospace Corporation (currently SEKISUI AEROSPACE CORPORATION)

Innovation for the Earth

Establishment of Joint Venture to Commercialize “Waste to Ethanol" Technology called SEKISUI BIO REFINERY CO., LTD.

Long-term Vision ”Vision 2030” (for FY2020 to FY2030)

Medium-term Management Plan ”Drive2022” (for FY2020 to FY2022)

Innovation Center Established in Research & Development Institute (MIC) within the Research & Development Institute of High Performance Plastics Company

50th anniversary of the establishment of housing business "SEKISUI HEIM"

Women's track & field team SEKISUI Fairies wins first Queen's Ekiden

Transition from the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange to the Prime Market

Launch of New Waste to Resources Biorefinery Business Brand “UNISON - TM - ”

Medium-term Management Plan ”Drive2.0” (for FY2023 to FY2025)

Opened production of thermal gap filler materials for EVs (electric vehicles) and other environmentally friendly vehicle in the United States

Opened Production Factory for Synthetic Railway Sleepers (FFU) in Europe

Acquired Pipe Systems business from Shin-Etsu Polymer Co., Ltd.

Concluded a main sponsor agreement with American Football Team ”SEKISUI Challengers”

Awarded Okochi Memorial Production Prize for Omega Liner Method

Official Partnership Agreement with the Japan Association of Athletics Federations

Establishment of SEKISUI SOLAR FILM CO., LTD. for Perovskite Solar Cell Business

Official Partnership Agreement with Japan Para Athletics Federation

Completion of Large-Scale Renovation of Osaka Head Office

Launch of the film-type perovskite solar cell ‘SOLAFIL’ business