Technology Platform
The foundation of the group's value provision is a technology platform comprised of five core technologies that it has cultivated since its founding, as well as applied technologies that are more specific solutions.
By combining these multiple technologies, we will be able to create high value-added products for the realization of a future where all people can live enriched lives and sustainable society. We are engaged in research and development with the aim of creating new businesses.
core technology
Dispersion
Dispersion is the uniform distribution of fine particles (filler), each of which has a size of several micrometers to several nanometers, in a liquid or solid (dispersion medium). Our group has the technology to design special dispersants and dispersion resins (polymers) to suit fillers and dispersion media, and to create dispersions with arbitrary particle sizes to suit purposes. Furthermore, by controlling the degree of dispersion so that the filler is in an ideal state during film formation, and by dispersing the particles as finely as possible, we are developing a variety of products that maximize the functionality of the filler.
Application technology of dispersion
core technology
Coatings
In addition to forming films on base materials, precision coatings allows for casting technology that turns polymer into films, foreign matter/defect management, film thickness control, patterning coating, dry edge processing, lamination/multilayering of functional layers, etc. We have the technology. By combining our group's polymer design technology and dispersion technology with coatings technology, we maximize the functionality of the sheet. With a focus on adhesive tape products, we offer a wide range of products ranging from daily necessities to cutting-edge electronics materials and pharmaceuticals.
Application technology of coatings
core technology
Polymer
Many of our group's products use technology that "polymerizes monomers into polymers." By designing the primary structure such as molecular weight, glass transition temperature, branching, and number of functional groups, and also designing the secondary structure of particulate polymers, the performance of the polymer when it finally forms a film (e.g. , adhesion, crosslink density, elongation, refractive index, dielectric constant, etc.). We actively work on new synthesis, processing, and analysis methods, and utilize a variety of polymer design technologies to respond to social issues and customer needs.
Application technology of polymer design
core technology
Color Material Design
Using organic pigments synthesis technology, which is one of the origins of our group, we are developing materials that can control wavelengths not only in the visible light but also in the ultraviolet and near-infrared regions.
Furthermore, by combining polymer design technology, dispersion technology, and coatings technology to design the material's refractive index and film structure, we can arbitrarily control light transmission, absorption, reflection, and diffusion, improve material durability, and increase energy efficiency. We are working on technology that enables improved usage efficiency.
Applied technology for color material design
core technology
Analysis/MI
The Group makes full use of various analysis methods and abundant know-how to quickly investigate the causes of development issues and product quality problems and solve them in a short period of time. In particular, with regard to nano-level microstructure control, which is the key to the functional expression of many of our products, we strongly support product development with the latest equipment and proprietary technology for processing samples under optimal conditions.
In addition, we are working on data-driven development (materials informatics) that improves the speed of product development by analyzing accumulated experimental and paper data to search for materials and predict physical properties, as well as sensor devices that utilize our own materials and technologies, and new services based on that data.
Analysis/MI applied technology
Applied technology
Color filter resist
high performance pigments Taking advantage of our strength in in-house integrated development and production from synthesis to final color filter resist inks of color filter resist inks, which is adaptable to various applications such as flat panel displays (FPD), image sensors, and microdisplays. This product has good fluidity (easy to apply to substrates) and high transparency by making full use of nano-level dispersion technology cultivated through the development of printing inks and coatings, and by making pigments finer and dispersing it uniformly. We also offer a low-temperature curing type color filter resist inks that can be applied not only to glass but also to plastic substrates, etc. and contributes to reducing environmental impact.
Applied technology
Environmental harmony
Our group has so far produced "biomass" products that use plant-derived raw materials, "water-based" products that use water as the main ingredient instead of organic solvents, and resins that are gradually decomposed into water and carbon dioxide by bacteria in the soil. We have been providing environmentally-friendly products for packaging in the form of materials such as inks and adhesives, such as biodegradable products using .
In order to realize a further recycling-oriented society, we are utilizing our group's peeling and deinking technologies to build a "material recycling system" that aims to collaborate and promote not only materials but also local governments, companies, and local communities. .
Applied technology
Electronics
Our group has cultivated dispersion technology and polymer design technology, as well as coatings technology that uses these resins to form sheets and rolls into thick films, thin films, and laminates. By combining these technologies, we provide functional sheets and tapes to the rapidly developing electronics market, especially the high-speed communication and semiconductor markets, as well as resin materials, adhesives, and other products that we have accumulated technology for. .
Applied technology
Biodegradable resin
Our group is working to utilize bioplastics (a collective term that combines "biodegradable plastics" that are biodegradable by microorganisms and "biomass plastics" that use biologically derived raw materials) to realize a resource recycling society. . In particular, our biodegradable product group uses biomass and biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) as the main raw material, and we design and manufacture the polymer in-house depending on the application. Using advanced polymer design technology and expert blending and formulation technology, we provide a group of biodegradable products that have the same level of quality as conventional products.
Applied technology
Paint alternative technology
The painting process, which protects the car body and enhances its design, accounts for 20% of the CO 2 emissions from the vehicle manufacturing process, and there is a need for alternative paint technology. Our group has long provided marking films (pasting paints) for signs, advertisements, bus wrapping, etc., but we have further improved our technology in terms of durability, design, moldability, etc., which will lead to environmental friendliness in all situations. We will provide alternative paint materials.
Applied technology
Adhesive material
adhesives / pressure sensitive adhesives (pressure-sensitive adhesives) product group is one of our group's main products, and includes food packaging, medical device packaging, building materials, home appliances, automobiles, and miscellaneous goods, as well as optical films, electronics, We have also responded to the needs of growing markets such as life science, solar cells, and secondary batteries. Our unique polymer design and compounding technology allows us to achieve performance and functionality suitable for the base material and coating process. In addition, we provide one-stop support for our customers' "bonding" jobs with a product lineup that is unmatched by other companies, including environmentally friendly water-based types, solvent-free types, and hot melts types.
Applied technology
Bio
Next-generation medical fields such as regenerative medicine and cell medicine require unprecedented observation and culture control technologies for cells and biological substances. Our group leverages the technology and experience gained from our chemical products business to develop bioscience products such as fluorescent probes, blocking agents, protein stabilizers, and culture medium additives, contributing to drug discovery research and its applications. .
Applied technology
Color solutions
We support all types of color communication, from ``beautiful'' to ``easy to see for everyone.'' We provide new value through a wide range of solutions, including color selection in design, support for ink color management at printing sites, research on color design that is friendly to people with color blindness and cataracts, and color management that supports color universal design.
Applied technology
Optical control
In order to reproduce colors with high color rendering and improve visibility on display devices such as televisions and smartphones, it is important to control the transmission, absorption, reflection, and scattering of light in materials.
Optical control technologies such as ``selectively extracting the necessary wavelengths in the ultraviolet to near-infrared region'' and ``controlling the refractive index'' require robust durability in addition to optical properties. Our group not only designs dye skeletons, but also combines composition design and membrane structure design to provide a variety of durable and tough optical control materials.
Applied technology
Data
Utilizing the materials and technologies we have cultivated in printing information and electronics products, we are developing electronic devices and new services that provide valuable data that will help solve the problems faced by society and everyone in the world.
We are working on building data infrastructure technology that aggregates, analyzes, and converts various data into value, including data obtained from sensing devices designed and modularized using our own materials and data accumulated through past business activities. .
Applied technology
Conductivity control
Our group provides a variety of conductive materials for electronic devices, including conductive inks, based on the design and dispersion technology of functional materials developed through printing inks and display paints. In addition to stably dispersing conductive particles in a binder such as a polymer, we also control the degree of dispersion to form an ideal conductive path during use.
Recently, we are focusing on materials related to lithium-ion batteries by combining energy storage device evaluation technology. In the future, we are also working on the development of carbon materials and composite conductive materials in order to further improve functionality and propose next-generation power storage devices such as all-solid-state batteries.