First in Japan to commercially produce phthalic anhydride
1952
Successfully mass-produced maleic anhydride through benzene oxidation
1953
Used proprietary technology to commercially produce unsaturated polyester resin for the first time in Japan
1955
Launched production of fumaric acid
1959
Used proprietary technology to commercially produce ethylene oxide for the first time in Japan
1960
Received the Okochi Memorial Prize for commercializing ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol
1962
Launched production of ethanolamine
1967
Received the Society of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Japan Award (Technological section) for establishing the production technology for phthalonitrile and benzonitrile using ammoxidation process
1969
Launched production of ethyleneimine
1970
Commercially produced acrylic acid and acrylates by oxidizing propylene for the first time in Japan
1972
Launched production of secondary alcohol ethoxylates Received the Okochi Memorial Production Prize for acrylic acid and acrylates production technology
1973
Received the Director-General of the Japan Science and Technology Agency Award for acrylic acid production technology
1974
Launched production of automotive catalysts
1976
Received the Japan Petroleum Institute Award for Technological Progress for secondary alcohol ethoxylate production technology Kawasaki First Factory received an award from the Minister of International Trade and Industry as a good production site for high-pressure gas
1978
Received the Okochi Memorial Production Prize for secondary alcohol ethoxylate production technology
1979
Launched production of spherical fine particles Himeji Plant received the Director-General of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy Award as a good production site for heat management
1982
Completed demonstration plant for methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate
1985
Launched full-scale production of superabsorbent polymers
1987
Launched production of polycarboxylate ether polymers Received the Japan Petroleum Institute Award for methyl methacrylate production technology Received the Technological Award from the Catalysis Society of Japan for developing catalysts for methacrylic acid production Received the Society of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Japan Award (Technological section) for establishing and commercializing a highly efficient synthesis process for polyfluoro-aromatic compounds
1989
Received the Technological Award from the Catalysis Society of Japan for developing catalysts for ammonia dry-type flue-gas denitration
1992
Received the Chemical Society of Japan Award for Technical Development for developing a new production method for ethyleneimine
1996
Received the Chemical Society of Japan Award for Technical Development for developing and commercializing a new production process for maleimides
1997
Launched production of dioxin decomposition catalysts
2000
Commercialized fuel-cell materials
2002
Launched production of N-Vinyl pyrrolidone
2003
Received the Kirkpatrick Chemical Engineering Achievement Award for N-Vinyl pyrrolidone production technology
Decommissioned and dismantled the phthalic anhydride facility
2006
Launched production of acrylic resins for optical materials Received three awards for the development of new ethanolamine production technology in the same year: the Chemical Society of Japan Award for Technical Development, the Society of Chemical Engineers, Japan Award for Outstanding Technological Development, and the Catalysis Society of Japan Award for Technology
2007
Received the Chemical Society of Japan Award for Technical Development for developing a new production method for N-Vinyl-2-pyrrolidone
2009
Received the Okochi Memorial Technology Prize for developing new diethanolamine production technology
2014
Received the Chemical Society of Japan Award for Technical Development for developing and commercializing lactone-ring-containing acrylic polymer for optical films
Commercialized electrolyte for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries
2019
Completed facility for manufacturing middle-molecular drug active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)
2021
Received the Technology Award from the Catalyst Manufacturers Association, Japan for the development of highly active and resistant De-NOx catalyst and the identification of its performance enhancement mechanism
