Corporate History

Kawaken Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd. was able to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its founding.

1945	Dr. Yasota Kawakami founded the company in the open laboratory of Tokyo Kogyo Shikenjo for the purpose of offering technical consultation and conducting commissioned research. Established plant in Meguro, Tokyo.
1949	Established Kawakami Research Laboratory.
1950	Relocated plant to Omiya.
1953	Development and launched production and sales of sponge metal catalysts.
1954	Newly established Technology Department.
1957	Relocated head office to Ogura Building, Kobuna-cho, Nihombashi. Developed and launched production and sales of surfactant Amisol.
1960	Constructed Saitama Plant in Kawagoe City, and relocated plant.
1963	Opened Osaka branch.
1964	Changed company name to current name “Kawaken Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd.”
1968	Developed specialty chemical products.
1970	Constructed Kawakami Memorial Research Laboratory in Saitama Plant.
1974	Yotsuba Co., Ltd. became fully-owned subsidiary.
1977	Established Takefu Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd.
1982	Established Enshu Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd.
1984	Established Thai Kawaken Co., Ltd.
1988	Established K&FS PTE. LTD.
1989	Relocated head office to current location in Horidome-cho, Nihombashi. Introduced CI.
1993	Osaka branch celebrated 30th anniversary of opening.
1994	Constructed research center in Takefu Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd.
1995	Celebrated 50th anniversary of opening. Introduced VI.
1998	ISO9002 certification approved.
2002	Constructed mass-production GMP plant in Enshu Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd. Takefu Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd. acquired ISO9001 certification.
2003	Merged Takefu Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd. and Enshu Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd. Acquired ISO9001 certification on a company-wide scale. Saitama Plant acquired ISO14001 certification. Fukui Plant acquired ISO14001 certification.
2005	Celebrated 60th anniversary of establishment.
2006	Completion of construction for 6th plant B-area in Shizuoka Plant. Shizuoka Plant acquired Medicine manufacturing license.
2007	Established Kawaken Sterling Surfactants PVT. LTD.
2008	Completion of construction for 7th plant in Shizuoka Plant. Completion of construction for laboratory facility in Shizuoka Plant.
2010	Shizuoka Plant acquired ISO 14001 certification.
2013	Established KAWAKEN SINGAPORE PTE. LTD., a sales office in Singapore. Osaka Office celebrated 50th anniversary of opening.
2014	Completion of construction for additional laboratory facility in Saitama Plant.
2015	Celebrated 70th anniversary of establishment. Expanded the plant site of Shizuoka Plant.
2021	Completion of construction for general facility in the east area of Shizuoka Plant.
2022	Completion of construction for 2nd Sankuro-plant in Fukui Plant.
2023	Completion of construction for 8th plant in Shizuoka Plant.