1832~
Founding
1832~
Founding
The NAGASE Group traces its roots to 1832 when founder Denbei Nagase established Urokogataya, a dyestuffs wholesale business that handled safflower, funori seaweed and starches in Nishijin, Kyoto. Later on, we established a foothold in the chemical industry by starting to handle synthetic dyes.
View Detail1901~
Forging Ties with Leading Overseas Manufacturers
1901~
Forging Ties with Leading Overseas Manufacturers
Entering the 1900s, the NAGASE Group started doing business with overseas manufacturers to pursue the possibilities of chemicals. As it expanded its import business, NAGASE established an office in Lyon, France in 1901. That spurred the expansion of partnerships with overseas manufacturers, including Basel Chemical Co. of Switzerland (at that time called Ciba), as well as Eastman Kodak Co. (now Kodak) and DuPont of the U.S. While importing state-of-the-art products from overseas, including technology not yet available in Japan, and making great strides as a trading company specializing in chemical products, the NAGASE Group delivered new value.
View Detail1970~
Enhancing Functions as a Manufacturer
1970~
Enhancing Functions as a Manufacturer
Since its founding, the NAGASE Group has engaged in diverse operations. In 1970, it established Nagase-CIBA Ltd. (now Nagase ChemteX Corporation) as a joint venture with Ciba for manufacturing epoxy resins. The following year, it established Engineering Plastics, Ltd. (EPL) in a 50-50 joint venture with GE. It also built several new plants as part of steps to strengthen and expand its manufacturing, processing, and other functions as a manufacturer.
View Detail1990~
Demonstrating Advantages in R&D Functions
1990~
Demonstrating Advantages in R&D Functions
From the 1990s, the NAGASE Group began enhancing its R&D functions in earnest. In 1990, it established the Nagase R&D Center (now the Nagase Bio-Innovation Center) as a base for R&D into bio-related materials. In the 2000s, it established Nagase ChemteX (Wuxi) Corporation in China as an epoxy resin plant for Nagase ChemteX Corporation. It also made Pac Tech-Packaging Technologies GmbH of Germany a subsidiary. In 2007, it opened the Nagase Application Workshop, an open innovation laboratory, in a push to also secure an advantage in R&D functions.
View Detail2010~
Gearing Up the Food Ingredients Business
2010~
Gearing Up the Food Ingredients Business
In the 2010s, biotechnology also started to gain more attention. In 2012, the NAGASE Group made the biotechnology specialist Hayashibara Co., Ltd. a subsidiary to strengthen its food ingredients business. In 2019, it made Prinova Group LLC, a U.S.-based company that sells and processes food ingredients and has a global sales network, a subsidiary. By generating synergies among the new Group companies, NAGASE brought its food ingredients business into full swing and global development.
View Detail2020~
Promoting Sustainability
2020~
Promoting Sustainability
The NAGASE Group has grown into a corporate entity with diverse functions, including trading, manufacturing, processing, and R&D. While leveraging and adding on to those functions as a Business Designer, the Group strives to create an array of value. With the establishment of the Sustainability Committee and formulation of the Sustainability Basic Policy in 2020, it has also been focusing on sustainability in recent years. The Group aims to help solve social and environmental issues for the sustainable growth of society and the Group.
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