History

1937 Established Kyowa Research Laboratories.
1942 Kyowa Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd., the forerunner of Kyowa Sangyo Co., Ltd. and which oversees Kyowa Research Laboratories, began research into industrialization of Butyl alcohol.
1948 Kyowa Sangyo Co., Ltd., the forerunner of Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd., began Japan’s first mass production of Acetone and Butyl alcohol from syrup using fermentation.
1949

Pictured: Founding management of Kyowa Hakko Sangyo

Founding management of Kyowa Hakko Kogyo

Established Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.

1961 Established Daikyowa Sekiyu Kagaku Co., Ltd. as a joint venture with Daikyo Sekiyu. Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd. converts to petrochemical manufacturing methods.
1963

Pictured: Daikyowa Sekiyu Kagaku industrial complex in Umaokoshi, Yokkaichi (upon completion)

Daikyowa Sekiyu Kagaku industrial complex in Umaokoshi, Yokkaichi (upon completion)

Completion of the Yokkaichi Plant Umaokoshi Plant for Daikyowa Sekiyu Kagaku Co., Ltd.

1966 Established Kyowa Yuka Co., Ltd. (A subsidiary chemical manufacturer of Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd. Separated the Derivative Department of Daikyowa Sekiyu Kagaku Co., Ltd.)
1970

Pictured: Oxo facilities after start of operations

Oxo facilities after start of operations

Completion of the Yokkaichi Plant Kasumigaura Plant.

1988 Established Japan Oxocol Co., Ltd. as a subsidiary chemical manufacturer of Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd. Switched to a two plant system, consisting of the Chiba and Yokkaichi Plants.
1989 The Yokkaichi Plant receives the MITI* Minister's Award for Excellent Energy Conservation Plant and Building.
*MITI=Ministry of International Trade and Industry (currently the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
1991 Merged Kyowa Yuka Co., Ltd. and Japan Oxocol Co., Ltd.
1998

Pictured: Chiba Plant facilities for synthetic fatty acids

Chiba Plant facilities for synthetic fatty acids

The Chiba Plant receives ISO 9002 certification.
The Umaokoshi Plant receives commendation from MITI for high-pressure gas safety.

1999

Pictured: View of product quality inspections

View of product quality inspections

The Yokkaichi Plant receives ISO 9002 certification.
The Yokkaichi Plant achieves the highest level Type Five Record for accident-free hours worked.

2000 Established J-Plus Co., Ltd., as a joint venture with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation.
The Yokkaichi Plant and Chiba Plant both receive ISO 14001 certification.
The Yokkaichi Plant receives a commendation (Award of Excellence) from the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare.
2002

Pictured: Periodic fire drills at the plant

Periodic fire drills at the plant

The Yokkaichi Plant receives certification for longest accident-free period in the organic chemical industry.

2003 Established Japan Ethyl Acetate Co., Ltd., as a joint venture with Showa Denko K.K.
The Yokkaichi Plant and Chiba Plant switch certification from ISO 9002 to ISO 9001:2000.
2004 Name changed to Kyowa Hakko Chemical Co., Ltd. through joint investment of the Chemical Department of Kyowa Hakko Co., Ltd. and Kyowa Yuka Co., Ltd.
2007 The Chiba Plant received a commendation from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for its distinguished maritime-related service on Marine Day.
2008 The Yokkaichi Plant extended its accident-free record (23.95 million hours as of October, 2008) to remain as leaders in the organic chemical industry.
2010 Established KJ Holdings Co., Ltd
2011 Spun off from Kyowa Hakko Kirin Group as an independent entity under Japan Industrial Partners, Inc.
Merged Kyowa Hakko Chemical Co., Ltd. and KJ Holdings Co., Ltd.
2012 Name changed to KH Neochem Co., Ltd.
2015

Pictured: Opening ceremony of Taiwan-Japan Oxo Chemical Industries Inc.

Opening ceremony of Taiwan-Japan Oxo Chemical Industries Inc.

Established Taiwan-Japan Oxo Chemical Industries Inc. as a joint venture with CPC Corporation,
Taiwan and Mega International Commercial Bank Co., Ltd. to produce and sell Iso-nonyl Alcohol(INA).

2016

Listing ceremony

Listing ceremony

Listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange