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Another important affiliate of Sumitomo Bakelite is Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., which traces its history back to 1913 when the company began operation by producing calcium superphosphate fertilizers from sulfur dioxide generated in the operation of the copper smelting of Besshi Copper Mine. In early 1930s, Sumitomo Chemical expanded operation into the synthetic resins business, laying foundation to ultimately become a diversified chemical company including petrochemicals and fine chemicals. Having facilities in place to produce methanol as a raw material for formalin, Sumitomo Chemical seeking possible collaboration with others, contacted Nippon Bakelite which had by that time been already engaged in years of commercial operation in relevant industries. Then, in 1938, an organization specialized in the synthetic resin business “Gosei Jushi Kogyosho” was established with capital contribution from Nippon Bakelite and Sumitomo Chemical, paving a way to grow as a leading company, along with Nippon Bakelite, to steer Japan’s synthetic resins industry.
The world of this era, however, was anything but stable. The Pacific Theater of World War II broke out in 1941, and Gosei Jushi Kogyosho came to the attention of Japan’s military. Phenolic resins began to be used primarily for military requirements such as wireless communications and aircraft parts, and were even used as machine and chemical components in place of metal. One of the effects of the “conscription” of Gosei Jushi Kogyosho for military purposes was that Japan’s defeat in World War II hit the company very hard. However, just when all seemed lost, a new product pulled the company back from the brink of collapse: melamine resin decorative laminates. These sheets were made by pressing decorative laminates impregnated with a colorless, transparent, and fantastically water- and heat-resistant thermosetting resin. Mass-production began in 1951, and applications were expanded to include the walls of large ships as well as rolling stock, and the new product line helped to greatly improve the company’s business performance.
Meanwhile, the firm was also moving towards the mass-production of new synthetic resins such as vinyl chloride and polyester. With this development, it was clear that synthetic resins manufacturers could no longer expect to continue developing by making phenolic resins alone. To strengthen their business foundations and to promote technical innovation, Nippon Bakelite and Sumitomo Kakozai Industries, Ltd. (a subsequent incarnation of Gosei Jushi Kogyosho) decided to merge, leading to the formation of Sumitomo Bakelite in 1955. |
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Phenolic resins for industrial use
Sumitomo Bakelite provides a wide range of phenolic resins including solvent-free completely water soluble resins, virtually un-reacted monomer-free resins that contain no chemicals stipulated in the Regulations to Prevent Problems Caused by Specific Chemicals, and environment-friendly resins that contain no substances having an environmental impact. |
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