FUTAMURA CHEMICALS: Acquisition of “Cellophane business completed / Innovia Films’ Keith Fell appointed general manager of European operations
Futamura Chemicals (Nagoya / Japan; www.futamura.co.jp) has completed its acquisition of the cellulose business of Innovia Films (Wigton / UK; www.innoviafilms.com) as it continues to focus on its polymer films and banknote businesses. The deal was originally announced in April (see Plasteurope.com of 14.04.2016).
Futamura said the acquisition positions it as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of cellulose film and incorporates the market leading brands of “NatureFlex compostable films and “Cellophane. It includes manufacturing sites in Wigton, Cumbria / UK and Tecumseh, Kansas / USA, along with over 400 jobs at the manufacturing sites and global commercial offices.
Keith Fell who has been appointed general manager of Futamura’s European operations and who was previously an employee of Innovia Films, said: “I am delighted to take on this role for Futamura who are passionate about investing in the long term future of the global cellulose business. The acquisition is the perfect marriage; we bring with us a wealth of expertise and knowledge of sustainable, compostable films and our cellulose production facilities complement Futamura’s strong manufacturing capabilities.”
About Futamura Chemicals:
President’s message
Welcome to the website of Futamura Chemical Co.,Ltd.
Our company was established in 1950 to manufacture activated carbon . Under the corporate policy of ” contributing to our nation and society via our products,” we have expanded the range of businesses into cellulose, plastic films, phenol laminated sheets and saccharification.
Plastic films for food packaging, now representing our core business are indispensible materials being used to deliver foods to consumers without contaminants and loss where severer quality control of products is required as consumers are becoming more safety-conscious about foods.
Futamura Chemical Co.,Ltd.,as a leading manufacturer of plastic films , follows strict hygienic safety standards and practices. It is our mission to commit ourselves to stable supply of products with consistent quality in which our clients have trust.
Our activated carbon products, which have a long business history since the foundation of our company,have been used in various fields such as water treatment, industrial use, household products,etc. Recently, tapping into our production technology and characteristics of activated carbon , we have been proactively promoting new applications of it such as filters, medicines, solid acid catalyst, molecular sieving carbon, etc.
Focusing on the properties of those natural materials of cellulose and starch, we have been successful in putting on the market specially processed starch suitable for converting it into film and encapsulation leveraging its functions.
As stated above, Futamura’s business has expanded into various fields . We would like to contribute to society by broadly providing our products to customers.
What differentiates Futamura Chemical from others is that we stand on a principle that the company exists to ensure daily lives of people who work here ,rather than one that it exists for and belongs to shareholders. Hence, there is a corporate culture at Futamura Chemical to pursue the stability of the company from a long term perspective rather than to run after short-term profits and nominal sales.
Futamura Chemical was established by the founder, who had seen the devastation across Japan in last war,to reconstruct the homeland. The idea of treasuring the sense of values fostered by Japanese people has been embodied in the efforts of reconstructing the homeland. Japan is going to enter a new era in which its population decreases. Under such circumstances, in order for the company to grow steadily in the long run, it is of vital importance to think and act with a broader view rather than to seek its own happiness.
As a Japanese company, Futamura Chemical will cherish the sense of the Japanese traditional values and strive to ensure daily lives of people who work here and contribute to the industry and society as well.