2017 is an exciting year – SEKISUI Chemical turns 70! From a single plastics manufacturing plant to a 9 billion EUR global chemical and manufacturing company, SEKISUI Chemical continues to be a corporate leader in key industries and a strong advocate for environmental issues.
The Japanese company was founded as a general plastics manufacturing business in March 1947 as “Sekisui Inc.” Early success led to the Nara plant opening, which included the first plastic automatic injection molding business in Japan. Throughout the 1950s, the company continued to expand with new products, technologies and facilities. The first European subsidiary, SEKISUI Chemical GmbH, was established in 1962 providing various advanced solutions through import and export activities between SEKISUI in Japan and the European markets. In April 1963, then “Sekisui Plastics Corporation” became the first Japanese company to open a manufacturing facility in the United States (Hazelton, PA).
Over the next four decades, the company charted growth in new technologies and established a presence around the world. In that time, SEKISUI Chemical has been a leader in promoting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives as well as a strong supporter of environmental causes. This aspect has become an integral part of the company. As a result, the strengthening of CSR management to focus on sustainable growth is part of the current mid-term plan which ends in March 2017, “SHINKA! – Advance 2016.” As we mark our 70th anniversary, we use this as an opportunity to progress toward the next stage of growth and advancement. The next plan for “SHINKA” is in development and will run from April 2017 through March 2020.
70th anniversary festivities in Tokyo
The main anniversary festivities will be held on 3 March 2017 at Toranomon Hills in Tokyo, Japan. Next to the anniversary celebrations the new mid-term plan will also be presented at this day. About 530 participants will get the chance to join the presentation and to share the policy and messages introduced to their companies and teams later on. A very special highlight awaits the participants in the evening: The famous pianist Nobuyuki Tsuji will attend SEKISUI’s festivities and perform music that he specifically wrote for the 70th anniversary.
In the course of the year SEKISUI will conduct many memorial measures and events to celebrate the 70th anniversary.
- 70th anniversary books for employees and the public: The first one focuses on the theory and philosophy of SEKISUI. The second one on the introduction of SEKISUI’s outstanding business products
- Video about the 70th anniversary of SEKISUI
- The Global Children’s Eco Summit 2017 in Tokyo, Japan
- A brand new TV commercial, broadcasted on Japanese television
- Anniversary gift for all SEKISUI employees
Anniversary gift for all international SEKISUI employees
To celebrate the company’s 70th anniversary, every employee will receive a symbolic gift of Monaka. This is a traditional Japanese sweet that consists of an outer crispy wafer with a sweet filling inside such as red bean paste.
This special gift will be wrapped in Noshi, the traditional Japanese ceremonial wrapping style for handing over presents on celebratory occasions such as wedding or childbirth. On occasion of the 70th anniversary, SEKISUI follows this tradition. We hope you will enjoy this small token of the company’s appreciation and enjoy as all of us continue to work together with a shared goal to produce a better world with creative technologies.
Photo credits:
Monaka are a type of traditional Japanese dessert. Source: Wikipedia User “nyanya” https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kimonaka.jpg (CC BY-SA 3.0)
