Originality stemming from our research and developmental capabilities. Realization of new values.

Research and development of new products and operations is conducted through the careful cooperation between Unitika's central research laboratory and each type of business. In addition to fundamental research, a large effort has been concentrated on research and development that is directly linked to market requirements, which has progressed at a rate to match the speed of younger generation staff members. Products developed as a result of recent research into this young generation include Terramac, which has gained popularity as a biomass material due to the use of recycling technologies, new products in the health supplement field, and the active pursuit and development of new ideas. New product development is progressing smoothly in the polymer field, where much time and energy is required for the creation of new materials. Every small step taken now will make a difference to future goals.

Unitika's polymer technology has developed to a totally new level to become the first in the world across a variety of fields, including mass production of polyarylate resin and simultaneously biaxial oriented film. Research into polymerization has led to the creation of materials that until now did not exist. Fundamental value added research includes nano-composite nylon modified at the polymer level to create new types of materials, while foam sheets and beads for the biomass material Terramac are currently under development for the market. The use of coating materials such as Arrowbase, an emulsified functional polyolefin resin, have added value to film and resins, while maintaining a low impact on the environment. The focus is on further research in these fields.

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.Environmental research and development began with the water treatment facilities present in our own factories. Unitika's identity is proved by its products, and here in particular by products related to water treatment. Our high speed filtration device Marimo uses fibers as a filtration material, while Unicellex applies chelate resins for filtration. The cores of these technologies are those developed in the polymer and fiber fields. With a greater importance placed on future environmental conservation and assessment techniques, the development of new technologies will no doubt contribute to Unitika's unique approach to these fields.

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The advanced materials field has combined unique creativity and advanced technology to develop very special materials such as highly heat resistant wholly aromatic polyimides and amorphous carbon. Together with light weight and heat resistant polyimide foam, polyimide varnish has been developed as a material for FPC (electronic circuit boards). Materials with unique functionality and limitless possibilities such as glass fibers and amorphous metals have been used in the information and electric parts fields and for other applications that require small and light weight materials. This advanced development supports the practicality of such products in this niche market

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The development of value added and competitive products has become the most important mission in this age of globalization and harsh competition within the fiber and textiles field. Unitika works with the technical know how developed over many years to fully utilize polymer modification technologies and spinning technologies for the research and development of fibers with unique properties and of other composite materials. Of main concern is the development of new materials for industrial use, the further development of Terramac, the biomass material recognized as an eco-product, and the search for new raw materials.

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In the area of the Health and Amenity business, we have focused R&D resources on new developments in the biomedical field and health-promoting ingredients for the functional food and dietary supplements for anti-aging and lifestyle diseases. We are developing and marketing Konjac-derived ceramide, sugar beet derived L-arabinose and very rare mushroom, Hanabiratake and other mushrooms. Environment-friendly and recycling-oriented are our common business concept. As well as the ceramide and L-arabinose, we succeeded in obtaining beta-cryptoxanthin, anti-aging ang beauty functional ingredient, from Satsuma mandarin pulp and GABA(gamma-aminobutyric acid), very effective in lowering high blood pressure, from unused part of fresh asparagus.

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