Toray Industries, Inc.

The purpose of establishing Toyo Rayon was to benefit the nation's and economy's development. At a time when Japan had to rely on imports for cotton and wool, domestic production of rayon yarn from pulp would improve citizens' clothing life and, if exported, earn foreign exchange. Former Managing Director of Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Yusuke Azawa, who was the first chairman of Toyo Rayon Co., Ltd., envisioned this. In 1926, Toyo Rayon Co., Ltd. was established, and new technicians learned from foreign engineers, improving equipment and developing new products. Under the policy of the first plant manager of Shiga, Asahiko Kinjima (later chairman), "make the factory a place for human cultivation," the company emphasized employee development and education, becoming a model factory with modern technology and high morale. In establishing the company and selecting the site, careful consideration of labor and wastewater issues in manufacturing and chemical industries was essential. Shiga plant main office during construction.

Toyo Rayon's founding objective was to spur major development of the nation and the economy, with the founder's slogan 'To generate major benefits for the nation and the economy.'

Toyo Rayon Co., Ltd. founded.

We started in 1926 as a production company for rayon yarn.

Approval for construction of Shiga Plant obtained (April 16 is set as the foundation day of the company).

Shiga Plant established.

First rayon yarn spinning (Shiga).

Toyo Kenshoku (now Ehime Plant) established.

Seta Plant established.

Succeeded in synthesis and melt spinning of nylon 6 fiber (Shiga).

Aichi Plant established (absorption-type merger with Shonaigawa Rayon and other firms).

Showa Industry Co., Ltd. (now Toray Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd.) acquired.

Establishing a corporate culture of active engagement in R&D

After establishing its own technology for nylon production, Toyo Rayon entered a technical partnership with an American company. Toyo Rayon succeeded in melt-spinning nylon 6 fibers in 1941, but mass production began after the war. In 1951, a patent license agreement was signed with DuPont, and full-scale nylon fiber production began. Patent license agreement with DuPont.

Toyo Rayon concluded a patent licensing agreement with America's DuPont and began full-scale production of nylon fiber.

Nagoya Plant established.

Nylon technology licensing agreement concluded with E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. (DuPont, USA).

Marketing of AMILAN™ nylon resin began.

Toyo Nylon Knit Products (now Toray Textiles, Inc.) established.

In 1955, the company formalized its inherited management philosophy and established its corporate motto (revised in 1986 to "We contribute to society by creating new value"). In 1960, it established a foundation for basic science promotion, and has since carried out science and technology promotion activities. In 1993-1994, it established science promotion foundations in three Southeast Asian countries where it had been operating early. Toyo Rayon Science Promotion Society inaugural award ceremony (March 1961), Malaysia Toyo Science Promotion Foundation establishment ceremony (November 1993).

In 1955, Toyo Rayon expressly laid out a company motto reflecting the management philosophy passed down since its founding.

Company principle established.

Trilon Co., Ltd. (now Toray Industries (H.K.) Ltd.) established in Hong Kong.

In 1956, a central research institute was established in Otsu City, and in 1962 a basic research institute was established in Kamakura City, focusing on new product development.

Toray established the Central Research Laboratory in Otsu (Shiga Prefecture).

Central Research Laboratories established (Shiga).

Signed a technology partnership agreement with ICI regarding polyester (February 1957). In 1957, the company introduced polyester technology from ICI (UK) and grew into one of the world's leading synthetic fiber manufacturers handling the three major synthetic fibers in the 1960s.

Signed technical agreement about polyester with ICI (Feb. 1957). Toray licensed polyester technology from the U.K. firm ICI, becoming one of the world's leading manufacturers of all three major types of synthetic fiber in the 1960s.

Polyester technology licensing agreement with Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. (ICI, of the U.K.).

Mishima Plant established.

Production of TETORON™ polyester fiber began.

Toyo Metallizing Co., Ltd. (now Toray Advanced Film Co., Ltd.) established.

Production of LUMIRROR™ polyester film began.

Established overseas manufacturing subsidiaries and actively transferred technology.

In 1960, Toyo Rayon set up a foundation to promote and support basic science in Japan.

Okazaki Plant established.

Toyo Rayon Science Foundation (now Toray Science Foundation) established.

Toyo Construction Co., Ltd. (now Toray Engineering Co., Ltd.) established.

Toy Rayon's Science Foundation First Award Presentation Ceremony (Mar.1961)

Established a basic research institute in Kamakura City in 1962.

Toray established the Basic Research Laboratory in Kamakura (Kanagawa Prefecture).

Basic Research Laboratories (now Pharmaceutical Research Laboratories) established (Kamakura).

In 1963, we established our first manufacturing subsidiary in Thailand and transferred technology.

Toray's first joint venture in Thailand in 1963 and the transfer of its technology.

Thai Toray Textile Mills Co., Ltd. (now Thai Toray Textile Mills Public Company Limited) established in Thailand.

Production of rayon yarn phased out.

Full-scale production of TORAYFAN™ polypropylene film began (Shiga).

Toray Nylon Thai Co., Ltd. (now Thai Toray Synthetics Co., Ltd.) established in Thailand.

Production of TOYOLAC™ ABS resin began (Nagoya).

Production of TORAYLON™ acrylic fiber began (Ehime).

Toyo Products Co., Ltd. (now Du Pont-Toray Co., Ltd.) established as a result of equal investment by Toyo Rayon and Du Pont.

Marketing of SILLOOK™ polyester filament yarn--a substitute for natural silk--began.

Toray New York, Inc. (now Toray Industries (America), Inc.) established in the U.S.

Marketing of PROMILAN™ nylon 66 began.

Toray Silicone Co., Ltd. (Now Dow Toray Co., Ltd. and DuPont Toray Specialty Materials K.K.) established as a result of equal investment by Toyo Rayon and Dow Corning in the U.S.

Full-scale production of TORAYPEF™ polyolefin foam began (Shiga).

In 1970, we changed our company name from Toyo Rayon Co., Ltd. to Toray Co., Ltd., promoting the internationalization of our fiber business and diversification through new ventures such as plastics.

Toyo Rayon Co., Ltd. renamed Toray Industries, Inc.

After successfully developing polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fiber, Toray initiated its test production in quantities of a few hundred grams per month in 1970.

Expansion of Toray's carbon fiber business for the next generation of aircraft structures.

In 1986, it was revisited, after which a new corporate motto of 'Contributing to society through the creation of new value with innovative ideas, technologies and products.' was established.

Malaysia Toray Science Foundation Inaugural Ceremony (Nov. 1993)

In 1994, it established independent science foundations in three Southeast Asian nations, where the company had expanded early on.

2000 - Increased orders for reverse osmosis (RO) membranes used at water treatment facilities

Received the Prime Minister's Award for the invention of "Thermosetting fiber-reinforced composite material thermal bonding technology and integrated molded products" at the 21st National Invention Awards.

Toray Tonen Specialty Separator (now Toray Battery Separator Film Co., Ltd.) established in Japan.

Daimler AG agreed to jointly develop carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) for automotive parts.

Toray signs long-term basic supply agreement with EADS (Airbus)- to supply carbon-fiber prepreg.

Toray and UNIQLO Co., Ltd. agreed to a "second five-year plan under strategic partnership."

Environment & Energy Center established (Seta).

Toray Advanced Film Kaohsiung Co., Ltd. established in Taiwan.

Toray Medical (Qingdao) Co., Ltd. established in China.

Euro Advanced Carbon Fiber Composites GmbH established in Germany.

Automotive Center China opened in Shanghai.

P.T. Toray Polytech Jakarta established in Indonesia.

Toray Advanced Materials Research Laboratories (China) Co., Ltd. established in China.

Toray Plastics (Chengdu) Co., Ltd. established in China.

Toray Brazil Ltda. established in Brazil.

Celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of business in the Kingdom of Thailand.

Celebrated the fortieth anniversary of business in the Republic of Indonesia.

Celebrated the fortieth anniversary of business in Malaysia.

DOME CARBON MAGIC LTD. (now Toray Carbon Magic Co., Ltd.) acquired.

Acquired entire stake in Zoltek Companies, Inc., manufacturer of large tow carbon fibers.

Toray Advanced Materials Korea Inc. secured preferential negotiating rights regarding share acquisition of Woongjin Chemical Co., Ltd. (now Toray Chemical Korea Inc.) in the Republic of Korea.

hitoe® Developed hitoe™ functional material enabling continuous measurement of biodata.

Medium-Term Management Program “Project AP-G 2013” formulated.

Toray Kusumger Advanced Textile Private Limited. established in India.

Toray Resin Mexico S.A. de C.V. established as a resin compounding business in the United Mexican States.

Toray Membrane Middle East LLC established in Saudi Arabia.

Composite Materials (Italy) s.r.l. established in Italy.

Toray Resins Europe GmbH. established in Germany.

Greenerity GmbH established, as a company for business in the fuel-cell / water electrolysis industry.

Toray Industries Europe GmbH. established in Germany.

Delta Tech S.p.A. established in Italy.

Toray and UNIQLO Co., Ltd. agreed to a "third five-year plan under strategic partnership."

Signed a comprehensive long-term agreement with The Boeing Company to supply carbon fiber TORAYCA™ prepreg for the production of the new Boeing 777X aircraft, extending the existing supply agreement for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Toray Advanced Materials Symposium 2016 and Toray Advanced Materials Exhibition 2016 was held at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo.

Decision to establish R&D Innovation Center for the Future (Shiga) finalized.

Toray WBD Membrane Technology (JS) Co., Ltd. established in China.

Decision to start Automobile Airbag Nylon Fiber and Fabric Business in Mexico.

Medium-Term Management Program “Project AP-G 2019” formulated.

Toray Composite Materials America, Inc. established in the U.S.

Toray Malaysia Systems Solution Sdn. Berhad establishe in Malaysia.

Automotive Center Europe opened in Germany.

UNIQLO and Toray hosted Apparel Expo in New York.

Toray Polytech (Foshan) Co., Ltd. established in China.

Toray Industries Hungary Kft. established in Hungary.

Toray’s New Textile and Garment Development Base TECHNORAMA GIII Completed.

Toray TCAC Holding B.V. and TenCate Advanced Composites USA, Inc. established in Netherlands and the U.S.

Toray Group Sustainability Vision formulated.

New Frontiers Research Laboratories, R&D Innovation Center for the Future (Scheduled for opening in 2019)

Toray Industries Korea Inc. established in Korea.

Toray Membrane (Foshan) Co., Ltd. established in China.

Toray Textiles (Thailand) Public Company Limited. established in Thailand.

R&D Innovation Center for the Future opened in Shiga.