Developing unique functional polymers to reflect the user's needs
In the chemical business, the Group engages in the development and sale of proprietary functional polymers such as Poly-allylamine and the Polyamine Series. Until now, we have developed flocculants for wastewater treatment, ink fixing agents for paper, textiles, and films, and heavy metal scavenger agents. Our key characteristic is R&D conducted in close cooperation with chemical products and pharmaceutical manufacturers and research institutes to create product proposals that meet customer needs. We also have strengths in niche markets and are actively developing business not only in Japan, but also in overseas markets.
In order to develop new products, our researchers visit customers who are chemical manufacturers and research institutes and constantly discuss with them to grasp their needs at the worksite level. This has enabled us to understand both visible and latent problems of our customers and to propose them solutions. We have created a wide range of unique products such as a dye fixing agent for fibers , an auxiliary agent for metal plating and a hard coating agent for wooden flooring.
Our greatest strength is our ability to research and develop new functional polymers by utilizing unique raw materials and manufacturing know-how. Our distinctive products in the world, such as Poly-allylamine (PAA™) and the Polyamine Series (PAS), have been developed through long and repeated discussions with our customers. SSG Coat™, which is inorganic/organic nano-composite materials can solve various problems of conventional inorganic/organic composite materials in innovative ways. MOKUTO™, which is a special liquid glass paint, can protect the surface of natural woods. Both are used in many fields such as woodwork, metals, building maintenance, chemical and electronics.
The chemical business will continue to explore the possibilities of functional polymers and nano-composite materials and its aim is to conduct a comprehensive polymer/ nano-composite materials business.
History of our businesses
The origins of our chemical business can be traced back to the invention of polyaminesulfone at the former Chemical Fiber Laboratory of Nittobo. The Laboratory invented polyaminesulfone as a by-product of its research on organic fibers, such as acrylic fibers, and developed it further. Based on this functional polymer, we have continued to develop new high molecular polymers and as a result of our R&D activity to meet customers' needs, we could continue to create our diverse polymers essential to people's living, such as dye fixing agent and ink fixing agent.