History of Unitika

Unitika's History Creates its Next History

The Unitika Group got its start in 1889, with the founding of Amagasaki Spinners, a historic first step in the start of Japan's textile industry. When the company changed its name to Dainippon Spinners in 1918, it was already helping to support the Japanese fiber industry as one of Japan's three largest textile makers. In 1969, the company merged with Nippon Rayon and the new company became known as Unitika. Today, Unitika's fiber and textile business and the dynamic array of its other business activities are made possible by the interactions among all the Group members. As Unitika continues to evolve into the future, its wealth of experience is an asset shared throughout the Group.

1889 to the 1950s

  • 1889Amagasaki Boseki Ltd. was established (June 19).
  • 1893
    • Telephone poles and telephone lines were built, and offered to Osaka’s telephone switching station.
    • Company reorganized from Amagasaki Boseki Ltd. to Amagasaki Boseki Co., Ltd.
  • 1900Construction of the Amagasaki head office (currently the Unitika Memorial Hall) was complete.
  • 1918Amagasaki Boseki merged with Settsu Boseki, and company name changed to Dainippon Boseki Co., Ltd. (June 1)
  • 1927Uji Plant began operation, business began in Osaka.
  • 1939The R&D Center was established (within Uji Plant).
  • 1955Uji Plant began producing nylon fibers.

1960s

  • 1963Glass fiber business was launched.
  • 1964
    • Company name changed to Nichibo (April 26).
    • Okazaki Plant began producing polyester fibers.
  • 1966
    • Nippon Ester Co., Ltd. was established as a producer and seller of polyester fibers and resins (merger with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation and Unitika Ltd.).
    • Succeeded in developing biaxial-oriented nylon films.
  • 1969Nichibo and Nippon Rayon merged to form Unitika Co., Ltd. (October 1)

1970s

  • 1973Unitika image model was announced.
  • 1975First spunbond facility began operation in Okazaki Plant.

1980s

  • 1983The polyester film “Emblet” began full production.
  • 1987Olefin-based spunbond nonwoven fabric “Eleves” was developed
  • 1988AD’ALL Co., Ltd., an activated carbon fiber manufacturing company, was established in cooperation with Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
  • 1989Unitika’s centennial (June 19)

1990s

  • 1991Production of Cottoace, a cotton spunlace nonwoven fabric began.
  • 1993Nylon-based multilayer film “Emblon” was developed and sales began.
  • 1995Emblem Asia was established in Indonesia, and began the production and sales of nylon film.
  • 1997Tusco was established in Thailand after a merger with Teijin, and began the production and sales of polyester spunbond nonwoven fabrics.
  • 1998Following an agreement with Cargill Dow Polymers LLC for a supply of polylactic acid, Terramac, a biodegradable biomass plastic, was developed.

2000s

  • 2002Unitika Shanghai Office was established.
  • 2009
    • Restructured and integrated the Clothing Fiber Division and changed the company name from Unitika Tsusho Ltd. to Unitika Trading Co., Ltd.
    • A new release film was developed.
    • A top-grade thermal-conductive nylon resin was developed.
    • Resin Technical Center was established in the Uji Business Office.

2010s

  • 2010
    • Highly heat-resistant aromatic polyamide film was developed.
    • The world’s highest-grade heat-resistant polyamide “XecoT” was developed.
  • 2011UMCT Co., Ltd. was established after a merger with Marusan Industry Co., Ltd., and began the production and sales of cotton spunlace nonwoven fabrics.
  • 2012Terada Boseki Co., Ltd. became a wholly-owned subsidiary.
  • 2013The gas-permeable (ventilated) waterproof sheet “Eleves Capping Sheet” was developed for use in temporary storage facilities for decontamination waste.
  • 2014Unitika’s 125th anniversary (June 19)