History
1964 - 1981
Idemitsu Petrochemical markets plastic processed products
| Year | Month | Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Sep. | Idemitsu Petrochemical Co., Ltd. is founded |
| 1965 | Jul. | Plastic net technology is introduced by U.S. Company - Plastic processing technology is introduced and plastic processed product manufacturing and marketing start |
| 1966 | Dec. | Inflation film manufacturing equipment is introduced at Chiyoda Kakoushi Co., Ltd. Atsugi Plant (later Hikari Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.) |
| 1967 | Jan. | Mizonoguchi Processing Laboratory opens in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture |
| Jun. | T-diecast film manufacturing equipment is installed at the Mizonoguchi Processing Laboratory (Development of co-extruded multi-layer casting film UNILAX starts) | |
| 1968 | Sep. | Idemitsu Petrochemical exhibits at the 2nd Tokyo International Packaging Exhibition TOKYO PACK |
| 1970 | Aug. | Mizonoguchi Processing Laboratory closes |
| Sep. | R&D Laboratory for Plastic Products (now R&D Center for Plastic Products) opens in Sodegaura City, Chiba Prefecture | |
| 1971 | Jun. | Marketing of laver screen starts (business was transferred in 1984) |
| Aug. | Marketing of kerosene cans (logistics material) starts | |
| Aug. | Marketing of plastic containers (logistics material) starts | |
| 1972 | Mar. | Marketing of petrochemical products starts at gas stations directly operated by Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. |
| 1973 | Oct. | [1973 Oil Crisis] - August 1974 |
| 1974 | Apr. | Development of HDPE thin, high-strength film (UF film) starts |
| Aug. | Idemitsu Petrochemical invests in Hikari Chemical Industries | |
| 1975 | Aug. | High-speed inflation film maker is installed at the R&D Laboratory, accelerating UF film development |
| 1976 | - | Marketing of plastic bags (general packaging material and UF film) starts |
| 1977 | Dec. | Joint development of a co-extruded multi-layer PS sheet starts with a Japanese company (partnership discontinued in 1984), later leads to the development of the co-extruded multi-layer sheet MULTILAY |
| 1978 | Jan. | Co-extrusion multi-layer inflation film system is installed at R&D Laboratory (Development of UNIMARB, now UNICREST, starts) |
| Oct. | [1979 Oil Crisis] - April 1982 | |
| Nov. | Development of the gas barrier co-extruded multi-layer sheet MULTILAY PBP grade using EVOH resin starts | |
| Dec. | Development of OPS sheets using the tubular method starts | |
| 1979 | Feb. | Marketing of the co-extruded multi-layer sheet MULTILAY PNP grade starts |
| - | Marketing of the co-extruded multi-layer inflation film UNIMARB starts | |
| Apr. | Nationwide marketing of petrochemical products starts, using Idemitsu Kosan's dealerships | |
| Aug. | Idemitsu Petrochemical invests in Taiyo Chemical Industries | |
| 1980 | Oct. | Marketing of the co-extruded multi-layer sheet MULTILAY PBP grade starts |
| 1981 | Apr. | Development of the high-transparency PP sheet PURELAY starts |
| Oct. | Market research and technology research starts for zipper bags (Development of zipper profile PLALOC starts) |
1982 - 1999
Idemitsu Petrochemical becomes a plastic product manufacturer
| Year | Month | Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Apr. | Product Marketing Development is established at Idemitsu Petrochemical headquarters (independent division established for plastic processed products) |
| 1983 | Apr. | UNIMARB SUX film technology is licensed to a UK company |
| Dec. | Aoyagi Experiment Plant is completed, and the first production line for MULTILAY is installed and starts operation in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture | |
| 1984 | Jan. | Uni Chemical Industries is established as a plastic packaging material manufacturing company |
| Apr. | Development of the double-bubble tubular nylon film UNIRON starts based on the previous development of OPS sheets | |
| Jun. | First production line for UNILAX™ is installed at the Aoyagi Experiment Plant, and production of single-item (bread, noodles, sprouts) packaging grade films start | |
| Jul. | Idemitsu Packaging News is published | |
| 1985 | Jan. | Packaging Laboratory opens in the R&D Laboratory |
| 1986 | Feb. | R&D Laboratory is abolished, and the Packaging Laboratory becomes an independent laboratory of the plastic processed products business |
| Mar. | Construction of the Hyogo Plant starts in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture (completed in May 1987) | |
| May | Construction of the Chiba Plant starts in Sanbu-gun, Chiba Prefecture (completed in June 1987) | |
| Aug. | Marketing of the inorganic filler multi-layer sheet OPALAY starts | |
| Sep. | OEM production of PLALOC zipper profiles starts at a Japanese contractor | |
| Sep. | PURELAY™ technology is licensed to a West German company | |
| Oct. | Idemitsu Petrochemical exhibits at TOKYO PACK 1986 › Magic Top exhibition › (Continuous exhibition up to 2012) | |
| Oct. | Second production line for UNILAX™ starts operation at Chiba Plant | |
| 1987 | Jan. | First and second production lines for MULTILAY™ and manufacturing equipment for PURELAY™ start operation at Hyogo Plant |
| Jan. | First production line for UNILAX™ is transferred to and starts operation at Chiba Plant | |
| Jan. | Packaging Laboratory is transferred to Hyogo Plant | |
| Apr. | Co-extruded multi-layer inflation film production system starts operation at Hikari Chemical Industries’ Chiba Plant | |
| 1988 | Apr. | First production line for UNILON is installed and starts operation at Hyogo Plant |
| May | First production line for PP spunbond nonwoven fabric STRATEC starts operation at Chiba Plant | |
| Sep. | MAGICTOP™ technology is licensed to a U.S. company | |
| 1989 | Mar. | MAGICTOP™ technology is licensed to an Australian company |
| Oct. | MAGICTOP™ technology is licensed to a West German company | |
| 1990 | Mar. | Additional production line for MULTILAY™ is installed and starts operation at Hyogo Plant |
| Jul. | Industrial Materials Laboratory is established in Hyogo Plant (for the development of nonwoven fabric grades, etc.) | |
| Oct. | Additional production line for UNILAX™ is installed and starts operation at Chiba Plant | |
| 1991 | Jan. | PLALOC Co., Ltd. is founded in Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture |
| Mar. | [Collapse of the Bubble Economy] - October 1993 | |
| Sep. | MEDIPAIL™ (logistics material, medical waste container) receives Good Design Award | |
| 1992 | Nov. | Marketing of the linear-cut double-bubble tubular nylon film UNIASLON™ starts |
| 1993 | Apr. | Marketing of the zippered comforter compression bag (laminated product) starts |
| 1994 | May | OEM production of the high-transparency PP sheet SUPERPURELAY™ for foldable boxes starts at Japanese contractor via belt process |
| 1995 | Jan. | [Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake] |
| Mar. | Product Laboratory is established at the Hyogo Plant (dual organizational structure consisting of the Packaging Laboratory and Industrial Materials Laboratory) | |
| Apr. | Idemitsu Plastics Co., Ltd. is founded spinning off the business for general packaging, logistics materials, laminated products, etc.) | |
| May | 1st Idemitsu Packaging Event is held | |
| 1997 | Mar. | Belt process technology is licensed to a German company |
| 1998 | Mar. | Product Laboratory is transferred to the premises of Idemitsu Kosan Central Laboratory (now Advanced Technology Research Laboratories) in Sodegaura City, Chiba Prefecture |
| Mar. | PLALOC™ tight-seal technology is licensed to a U.S. company | |
| Apr. | Production of the soft polyolefin sheet PURESOFTY™ starts at Hyogo Plant | |
| Apr. | Production of the composite nonwoven fabric STRAMIGHTY™ starts at Chiba Plant | |
| 1999 | Mar. | UNIASLON™ technology is licensed to a Japanese company (expired in 2013) |
| Nov. | Marketing of the recyclable and reusable ink container RS Can starts | |
| Dec. | Hyogo Plant acquires ISO 9001 certification |
2000 - 2020
Idemitsu Unitech makes further advancement in business and management base
| Year | Month | Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Apr. | Idemitsu Unitech Co., Ltd. is founded |
| Sep. | License for composite nonwoven fabric is granted to a South Korean company | |
| Nov. | Chiba Plant acquires ISO 9001 certification | |
| 2001 | Apr. | Production of the high-transparency sheet PURETHERMO™ for heat molding starts at Hyogo Plant |
| May | Belt Process technology wins the 11th Aoki Technical Award | |
| Aug. | PLALOC™ technology is licensed to a Japanese company. Contract manufacturing in China is determined (license discontinued in 2017). | |
| Dec. | MAGICTOP™ technology is licensed to a U.S. company | |
| 2003 | Feb. | Joint company is established with a Japanese company for the purpose of manufacturing UNILON™ at a local Chinese company (Operation started in 2005 and the joint company dissolved in 2010, leading to business retreat) |
| Mar. | Taiyo Chemical Industries’ heat molding business is transferred to a Japanese company | |
| 2004 | May | MAGICTOP™ technology is licensed to a South Korean company |
| Aug. | [Merger of Idemitsu Kosan and Idemitsu Petrochemical] | |
| Sep. | PURESOFTY™ business is transferred to a Japanese company | |
| Oct. | Hikari Chemical Industries is consolidated into Idemitsu Unitech and reorganized as Manufacturing Section 3, Chiba Plant | |
| Oct. | High-speed container molding equipment is installed at a Japanese contractor to start operation | |
| Nov. | Headquarters, branches, R&D Center for Plastic Products, and Chiba Plant (Manufacturing Section 3) acquire ISO 9001 certification | |
| 2005 | Aug. | SUPERPURELAY™ technology is licensed to a Japanese company, making it a base for manufacturing the product in West Japan (partnership discontinued in 2014) |
| 2006 | Jun. | Idemitsu Plastics Co., Ltd. is consolidated into Idemitsu Unitech |
| Aug. | Headquarters, branches, plants, and R&D Center for Plastic Products acquire ISO 14001 certification | |
| 2007 | Mar. | Capital increase is determined (Capital increased from 300 million yen to 1.6 billion yen) |
| Apr. | Functional Parts Plant (now Mie Plant) is established on the premises of Taiyo Chemical Industries | |
| May | PS sheet distribution company is jointly founded with two other Japanese companies | |
| Jul. | Manufacturing equipment for UNIPLUS LCD diffuser plate sheets is installed at the Functional Parts Plant | |
| Oct. | MAGICTOP technology is licensed to a Japanese company | |
| Dec. | Taiyo Chemical Industries’ PS sheet production business is transferred to a Japanese company | |
| 2008 | Mar. | Functional Parts Plant (now Mie Plant) acquires ISO 9001 certification |
| Apr. | Idemitsu Unitech participates in the German interpack exhibition for the first time | |
| Sep. | [Global Financial Crisis] | |
| 2009 | Mar. | Taiyo Chemical Industries is consolidated into Idemitsu Unitech |
| Mar. | Capital increase is determined (Capital increased from 1.6 billion yen to 2.6 billion yen) | |
| Jun. | Manufacturing equipment for UNITACLAY protection film installed at Chiba Plant | |
| Nov. | PLALOC is integrated into Shizuoka Plant | |
| 2011 | Mar. | [Great East Japan Earthquake] |
| May | Belt Process technology wins the 2011 James L. White Innovation Award | |
| Dec. | Double-bubble tubular nylon film manufacturing company called K&I Film Co., Ltd. is jointly established with KOHJIN Co., Ltd. (Now KOHJIN Film & Chemicals Co. Ltd.) | |
| 2012 | Jun. | Idemitsu Unitech participates in PROPAK ASIA exhibition in Thailand for the first time |
| Oct. | Idemitsu Unitech withdraws from the UNIPLUS business. Functional Parts Plant changes to Mie Plant. Production of PLALOC™ starts. | |
| Nov. | Idemitsu Unitech participates in PACK EXPO in the U.S. for the first time | |
| 2013 | Jan. | Idemitsu Unitech establishes Plaloc Asia (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Thailand (“PAT”) |
| Mar. | Marketing of decorative sheets for motorcycles starts | |
| Jun. | First production line at K&I Film starts operation | |
| Dec. | Production of PLALOC starts at PAT | |
| 2014 | May | Idemitsu Unitech participates in Walmart Sam's Club International Packaging Exposition |
| 2015 | Mar. | Idemitsu Unitech withdraws from the UNITACLAY business. |
| Apr. | Idemitsu Unitech opens the PAT Bangkok Sales Office. | |
| 2016 | Mar. | General-purpose packaging and logistics materials businesses are transferred to other Idemitsu group companies. Idemitsu Unitech withdraws from the nonwoven fabric business. |
| Mar. | Package using UNIASLON wins the Highest Achievement Award at the 60th Annual Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards sponsored by the U.S. Flexible Packaging Association (FPA). | |
| Jun. | Idemitsu Unitech participates in the GLOBAL POUCH FORUM in the U.S. for the first time (Has participated every year since) | |
| Dec. | Idemitsu Unitech closes the Shizuoka Plant and consolidates it with Mie Plant | |
| 2017 | Jan. | Idemitsu Unitech participates in the 3D Surface Decoration Technology Exhibition for the first time, exhibiting its decorative sheets. |
| Mar. | Idemitsu Unitech formulates Vision 2026, its mid-to-long-term management vision | |
| Dec. | PAT receives ISO 9001:2015 certification. | |
| 2018 | Oct. | Idemitsu Unitech establishes its North American MR base at Idemitsu Chemicals U.S.A. Corporation (State of Michigan). |
| Oct. | Idemitsu Unitech participates in TOKYO PACK 2018, marking a return to TOKYO PACK for the first time since the 2012 event. | |
| 2019 | Jan. | Idemitsu Unitech joins the Clean Ocean Material Alliance (CLOMA) |
| Jan. | Idemitsu Unitech exhibits decorative sheets at the Idemitsu Kosan booth at the 11th Automotive World 2019 and the 9th Automotive Lighter Weight Technology Exhibition. | |
| Feb. | Idemitsu Unitech joins the U.S. Association for Packaging and Processing (PMMI). | |
| Feb. | Idemitsu Unitech starts the introduction of automatic defect inspection line for molded containers at Japanese contract manufacturers. | |
| Mar. | Packages using PLALOC (pocket zipper) wins the Highest Achievement Award and the Silver Award in the 63rd Annual Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards sponsored by the U.S. Flexible Packaging Association (FPA). | |
| Mar. | Idemitsu Unitech is certified by the Healthy Enterprise Declaration Tokyo Promotion Council as an excellent health-conscious enterprise “Gold” class. | |
| Mar. | Idemitsu Unitech is certified by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as a Sports Encouragement Company. | |
| Apr. | [Idemitsu Kosan and Showa Shell Sekiyu merge] | |
| 2020 | Apr. | 20th anniversary |
| Apr. | COVID-19 Declaration of State of Emergency was announced | |
| 2022 | Mar. | Biodegradation certification mark [OK compost INDUSTRIAL] certification |
| Mar. | Hyogo Plant acquires [ISO 22000:2018] [FSSC22000:ver5.1] certification |