Japanese firm Zeon Corporation has established Zeon Chemicals Kurashiki Co., Ltd to take over the acrylic rubber business of group company Tohpe Corporation. Tohpe and the new company entered into an absorption-type company split agreement.
Accordingly, Zeon says it has initiated the procedures required under the Companies Act. By positioning the new company as a key manufacturing site for Zeon’s specialty rubber business, one of its core businesses, Zeon aims to further bolster its competitiveness and enhance the corporate value of the entire Group.
The new company is scheduled to begin operations on October 30, 2026.
Acrylic rubber is a type of specialty rubber offering excellent heat resistance and is used in automotive parts such as oil seals and hoses. With four manufacturing sites in Japan, the US, and Thailand, the Zeon Group has established a global supply system for the product.
In May this year, Zeon announced the transfer of its shares in Tohpe to Natoco Co., Ltd. as part of the transfer of Tohpe’s paints business to Natoco.
The acrylic rubber business operated by Tohpe alongside its paints business continues to demonstrate strong synergy within Zeon’s elastomers business.