01.01.05
Location: Osaka, Japan
Sales: $71 million
Description: Key Personnel
Nobuaki Sumita, president, Kuraray Kuraflex
Plants
Okayama, Saijo and Ibaragi
Processes
Resin bonded, thermal bonded, spunlaced and meltblown
Brand names
Kuraflex, Microflex
Major markets
Coverstock, wipes, medical and household materials
Kuraray consists of three nonwovens companies—Kuraray Kuraflex, Kuraray Saijo and Kuraray Ibaragi. Recently, the company transferred its nonwovens sales operations to Kuraflex, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuraray, and, in April 2005, established Kuraray Kuraflex, which handles both production and sales functions for The Kuraray Group.
With a 10,500-ton-per-year capacity, Kuraray Kuraflex produces thermal bonded, resin bonded and spunlaced nonwovens. Additionally, Kuraray Ibaragi produces 3500 tons per year of spunlaced nonwovens, while Kuraray Saijo manufactures 1800 tons of meltblown nonwovens annually. The total production for the Kuraray Group stands at the 15,800-ton-per-year mark, with spunlaced nonwovens accounting for 8500 tons of this amount annually.
Kuraflex nonwovens mainly target the wet wipe and diaper coverstock markets, which account for more than 70% of total sales. In response to severe price competition, the division’s sales and production operations were merged to improve efficiency. Of Kuraray’s total nonwovens output, 35% is used domestically, 27% is used in the consumer sector, 20% goes to industrial markets, 12% targets medical applications and 6% is used in food end uses. The company plans to strengthen its activities in the industrial, medical and food sectors so that these three will total 50% rather than the current 38%. Kuraray also intends to reduce costs by increasing the quantity of nonwovens it produces and gaining a competitive edge.
Currently, the sales ratio of roll goods to converted goods is approximately 50%, although the company plans to augment its finished products business through the addition of higher value offerings. Kuraray continues to consider a low cost production base outside of Japan and is looking forward to continued recovery from economic setbacks and increased sales volumes in 2005.
Sales: $71 million
Description: Key Personnel
Nobuaki Sumita, president, Kuraray Kuraflex
Plants
Okayama, Saijo and Ibaragi
Processes
Resin bonded, thermal bonded, spunlaced and meltblown
Brand names
Kuraflex, Microflex
Major markets
Coverstock, wipes, medical and household materials
Kuraray consists of three nonwovens companies—Kuraray Kuraflex, Kuraray Saijo and Kuraray Ibaragi. Recently, the company transferred its nonwovens sales operations to Kuraflex, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuraray, and, in April 2005, established Kuraray Kuraflex, which handles both production and sales functions for The Kuraray Group.
With a 10,500-ton-per-year capacity, Kuraray Kuraflex produces thermal bonded, resin bonded and spunlaced nonwovens. Additionally, Kuraray Ibaragi produces 3500 tons per year of spunlaced nonwovens, while Kuraray Saijo manufactures 1800 tons of meltblown nonwovens annually. The total production for the Kuraray Group stands at the 15,800-ton-per-year mark, with spunlaced nonwovens accounting for 8500 tons of this amount annually.
Kuraflex nonwovens mainly target the wet wipe and diaper coverstock markets, which account for more than 70% of total sales. In response to severe price competition, the division’s sales and production operations were merged to improve efficiency. Of Kuraray’s total nonwovens output, 35% is used domestically, 27% is used in the consumer sector, 20% goes to industrial markets, 12% targets medical applications and 6% is used in food end uses. The company plans to strengthen its activities in the industrial, medical and food sectors so that these three will total 50% rather than the current 38%. Kuraray also intends to reduce costs by increasing the quantity of nonwovens it produces and gaining a competitive edge.
Currently, the sales ratio of roll goods to converted goods is approximately 50%, although the company plans to augment its finished products business through the addition of higher value offerings. Kuraray continues to consider a low cost production base outside of Japan and is looking forward to continued recovery from economic setbacks and increased sales volumes in 2005.