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SEKISUI History

1947

Established Sekisui Sangyo Co., Ltd. in order to run a general plastic business.

1948

Changed the company name to Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. Started the plastic automatic injection molding business.

1950s

In 1950, developed Japan's first cellophane tape, which acquired a favorable reputation.
In 1952, started full scale production of "Eslon Pipe," a hard PVC pipe, which greatly contributed to infrastructural developments such as water supply/drainage, power supply and gas distribution systems.
In 1953, became listed on the Osaka Stock Exchange, and in 1954, on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
In 1955, succeeded in molding injection of PVC pipe fittings.
In 1956, developed Japan's first plastic rain gutters ("Eslon Rain Gutters").
In 1959, opened an office in New York.

1960s

In 1962, established Sekisui Chemical Deutschland, an export, import and sales company for the European market.
In 1969, started production of plastic bathtubs.

For the first time Sekisui entered an overseas market by establishing a local plant.
Sekisui Plastics Corporation (SPC) was opened in Pennsylvania, U.S., for the manufacture of expandable polystyrene paper. SPC was the very first plant to be set up in the U.S. by a Japanese manufacturer. In the same year, Sekisui Malaysia Co., Ltd. was established in Singapore for the manufacture of pipes for the supply of water to tin mines. This marked the beginning of an overseas advance by Sekisui that continued until the mid 1970's.

Sekisui Singapore (PTE) Ltd., formerly Sekisui Malaysia Co., Ltd.
Sekisui Plastics Corporation (Pennsylvania, U.S.)


1970s

In 1970, developed Japan's first modular house ("Heim M1"). Cumulatively sold more than 400,000 houses.
Developed polyethylene products. The company's plastic garbage bin products of "Poly-Pail" and "Poly-Bucket" greatly contributed to beautification of towns in Japan.
Sekisui's "Softlon," a radiation cross-linked foamed polyolefin product, became widely used in IT, automotive and building industries.
Exported the company's technology to the U.S. and Europe. Expanded production and sales networks through joint management with local companies. Actively promoted overseas operations.
In 1979, awareded the Deming Prize, the highest honor for quality management, including production, sales and service, for the company's active promotion of TQC activities.

1973
Alveo B.V. (currently Sekisui Alveo B.V.), established in Holland in 1973 for the manufacture and sale of Softlon. Sekisui currently boasts 13 manufacturing bases across the globe with more than 40 sales offices.



1974
The oil shock brought with it the need to review the concepts of mass-production and large-scale consumer spending and led to the advance of energy conservation and heightened functionality in the field of piping machinery and materials, heralding the development of a wide range of products using new materials and technologies. One of the products to emerge from these developments was the wide-diameter Reinforced Compound Plastic pipe (RCP). At the same time, Fiber-reinforced Foamed Urethane (FFU) was developed in the field of functional materials. Sekisui is growing on global scale with the current RCP also manufactured by XINJIANG YONGCHANG-SEKISUI COMPOSITES CO., LTD. in China, and FFU is now coming into use for railroad sleepers throughout the world.

RCP construction in process
FFU is used for deodorizing lids in sewage processing facilities.


1980s

In 1987, developed "Two-U Home," a wooden structured modular house made using the company's unit technology and 2x4 technology, and started its sales.

1990s

The company's consolidated net sales greatly increased during the 1980s, from 335.5 billion yen (1980) to 808.6 billion yen (1990).
In 1996, acquired ISO 9000 series quality system certification.
In 1996, the company's capital exceeded 100 billion yen. The year 1997 marked the 50th anniversary of the company's founding.
In 1996, started the company's first overseas factory for "S-LEC FILM," an interlayer film, in the Netherlands.
As part of the company's social action program, started providing support for the nature conservation project of Nippon Keidanren.
Introduced the environmental management system and acquired an ISO 14001 certification.

1997
Construction of Sekisui Home factory in Thailand completed.

Sekisui industry in China
Two-U Home factory in Kuban completed.

1999
S-LEC B.V. interlayer film factory completed in Europe.

2000s

In 2000, Interlayer film manufacturing and sales company established in Thailand.

2001

Started a 3-company system, an internal company system which consists of a housing company, an urban infrastructure and environmental products company and a high-performance plastics company.

2002

Started local production and sales, in China, of many types of high-performance plastic products for infrastructural development, medical applications and automotive uses, such as water supply and drainage pipes, vacuum blood-collecting tubes and interlayer films.

WUXI SSS-DIAMOND PLASTICS CO., LTD., a joint company with Mitsubishi Plastics opened in China for the manufacture of polyethylene EF couplers.
Sekisui (Qingdao) Plastics Co., Ltd., a joint water-supply pipe materials venture established in China.
Business rights for expandable polyolefin manufacture in China acquired and SHANGHAI SEKISUI HOLY PLASTICS CO., LTD. established.
Packaging tape company SEKISUI HIGH PERFORMANCE PACKAGING (LANGFANG) CO., LTD. opened in China.

2003

Adopted a new catch phrase "Achieving the Cutting-edge - Sekisui Chemical, Full of Surprises."
Global promotion of the noise-insulating interlayer films operations starting from Europe with the completion of a newly built raw resin factory in Europe.

Expandable polyolefin manufacturer Youngbo Chemical Co., Ltd. in Korea joined the Sekisui Group.
Interlayer film manufacturing company SEKISUI S-LEC (SUZHOU) CO., LTD. opened in Suzhou, China.
BEIJING SEKISUI TRANK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. established for the manufacture and sale of vacuum blood collection tubes in China.

Sales companies in China integrated and Sekisui Heim and Sekusui Fami-S China established.

2004

Started production and sales of vacuum blood-collecting tubes in China.

2005

Started full-scale overseas operations for pipeline rehabilitation works. Established a joint venture in South Korea. Started accepting orders for rehabilitation works for sewage pipes in the United States.
Estalished joint ventures for the adhesive business with H.B. Fuller Company (USA)

China business vision, "CHINA500", established.

XINJIANG YONGCHANG-SEKISUI COMPOSITES CO., LTD. opened in China for the manufacture and sale of reinforced plastic pipes.
Sekisui Refresh Co., Ltd. opened in Korea for the manufacture and sale of pipeline renewal materials.

SEKISUI SPR AMERICAS, LLC. opened in Atlanta, Georgia.

2006

Start of GS21 Go! Frontier, The Sekisui Chemical Group Midterm Management Vision 2006-2008.

Sekisui Sanideng Co., Ltd. established in Taiwan for the manufacture and sale of plastic valves and pipes.

Commencement of manufacture of the world's first non-centrifugal blood collection tubes.


2007

The year 2007 marked the 60th anniversary of the company's founding.

Two events from the "60th Anniversary Program" held:
"Global Children's Eco Summit"
"Manufacturing Based on Learning from Nature - Junior Forum 2007"

Awarded Medal for Chinese Red Cross Humanitarian Services for donating 500,000 plastic vacuum blood collection tubes (Sterilized plastic vacuum blood collection tubes) to the China Bone Marrow Databank, Red Cross Society of China.

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