01.01.02
Location: Osaka, Japan
Sales: $70 million
Description: Key Personnel
Seiichi Takigawa, general manager, Kuraflex department 1; Yasuo Niita, general manager, Kuraflex department 2
Plants
Okayama, Saijo
Processes
Resin bonded, thermal bonded, spunlaced, melt blown
Brand Names
Kuraflex, Microflex
Major Markets
Coverstock, wipes, thermal bonded, spunlaced, melt blown
Through its subsidiary Kuraflex, Japanese roll goods producer Kuraray, Osaka, Japan, produces thermal bonded, resin bonded and spunbonded materials with a total capacity of 10,500 tons per year. This capacity added to Kuraray’s own production of 1800 tons of melt blown nonwovens, makes the company a leader in the Japanese nonwovens industry.
Kuraray has continued to be successful in the medical, sanitary and household markets, however, earnings in these areas have fallen off due, to some degree, to pricing pressures. This has led Kuraray to target additional areas such as construction and industrial applications, that have not been as severely affected by price erosions and competition.
In addition to focusing on new areas, Kuraray has realigned its production capabilities. The company reduced its thermal bond capacity in 2001 and added spunbond production in its place. The additional spunbond capacity, which brings Kuraray’s total capacity in this area to 5000 tons, targets the disposable wipes market.
Kuraray’s wipes business has also received a boost through a joint venture agreement with Japanese wipes producer Pigeon Group. Named Kuraray Ibaragi, the joint venture produces 15,200 tons of nonwoven materials per year. Of this capacity, spunlaced represents the largest percentage with 7900 tons per year.
This material is used in baby wipes sold by Pigeon. Company executives expect to see further cooperation between Kuraray and Pigeon, which rivals Uni-Charm as one of Japan’s leading soft goods companies.
Sales: $70 million
Description: Key Personnel
Seiichi Takigawa, general manager, Kuraflex department 1; Yasuo Niita, general manager, Kuraflex department 2
Plants
Okayama, Saijo
Processes
Resin bonded, thermal bonded, spunlaced, melt blown
Brand Names
Kuraflex, Microflex
Major Markets
Coverstock, wipes, thermal bonded, spunlaced, melt blown
Through its subsidiary Kuraflex, Japanese roll goods producer Kuraray, Osaka, Japan, produces thermal bonded, resin bonded and spunbonded materials with a total capacity of 10,500 tons per year. This capacity added to Kuraray’s own production of 1800 tons of melt blown nonwovens, makes the company a leader in the Japanese nonwovens industry.
Kuraray has continued to be successful in the medical, sanitary and household markets, however, earnings in these areas have fallen off due, to some degree, to pricing pressures. This has led Kuraray to target additional areas such as construction and industrial applications, that have not been as severely affected by price erosions and competition.
In addition to focusing on new areas, Kuraray has realigned its production capabilities. The company reduced its thermal bond capacity in 2001 and added spunbond production in its place. The additional spunbond capacity, which brings Kuraray’s total capacity in this area to 5000 tons, targets the disposable wipes market.
Kuraray’s wipes business has also received a boost through a joint venture agreement with Japanese wipes producer Pigeon Group. Named Kuraray Ibaragi, the joint venture produces 15,200 tons of nonwoven materials per year. Of this capacity, spunlaced represents the largest percentage with 7900 tons per year.
This material is used in baby wipes sold by Pigeon. Company executives expect to see further cooperation between Kuraray and Pigeon, which rivals Uni-Charm as one of Japan’s leading soft goods companies.