Business History

1971

Ethylene-Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer (EVOH) pilot trial succeeds

1972

First commercial plant trial for EVOH succeeds (20 tons)

1973

EVOH adopted for use as a material for mayonnaise bottles

1974

Begins commercial development of GL resin (the trade name for EVOH, later "Soarnol®")

1984

The current Mizushima Site

Full-scale production facility for "Soarnol®" constructed at the Mizushima Site
(Initial equipment capacity: 1,800 tons/year, as of 2003: 10,000 tons/year)

1996

Equipment completed at "Soarnol®"production company Noltex L.L.C. established in Houston, Texas (U.S.A.)(Equipment capacity: 10,000 tons/year)
Soarus L.L.C. North American sales company for "Soarnol®" established Nippon Gohsei Europe GmbH. established as sales center for Europe

1997

Processing Technique Development Center established at Mizushima to meet customer needs for "Soarnol®"

1999

Expansion of facilities at Noltex L.L.C. plant in the U.S. completed
(to boost equipment capacity to 20,000 tons/year)

2001

Nippon Gohsei UK Ltd. established as "Soarnol®" production company in the United Kingdom

2002

Customer Service Center established in Dsseldorf, Germany to upgrade "Soarnol®" customer service organization

2004

Nippon Gohsei UK Ltd. begins operations
(Equipment capacity: 15,000 tons/year)