Toyobo

{{Short description|Japanese manufacturers of fibres and textiles}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2015}} {{Infobox company |name = Toyobo Co., Ltd. <br /> 東洋紡績株式会社 |native_name = |native_name_lang = ja |logo = Toyobo company logo.svg |logo_size = 200px |image = Toyobo Headoffice.JPG |image_size = 230px |image_caption = The company headquarters building in Osaka |type = Public (K.K) |traded_as = {{TYO|3101}}<br>Nikkei 225 Component |foundation = Osaka ({{Start date and age|1882|05}}) |location = 2-8, Dojima Hama 2-chome, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-8230, Japan |key_people = Ryuzo Sakamoto<br><small>(Chairman of the board)</small><br>Seiji Narahara<br><small>(President)</small> |industry = Textile |products = {{unbulleted list|Synthetic fibers|Textiles|Functional materials|Plastic films|Biochemical products|Medical reagents}} |revenue = {{increase}} US$ 3.41 billion (FY 2013) (JPY 351.57 billion) (FY 2013) |net_income = {{increase}} US$ 79.2 million (FY 2013) (JPY 8.15 billion) (FY 2013) |num_employees = 10,487 (consolidated, as of March 31, 2014) |homepage = {{Official website|http://www.toyobo-global.com/}} |footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.toyobo-global.com/company/data/ |title=Corporate Data |publisher=Toyobo |access-date=March 3, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Bloomberg">{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?ticker=3101:JP |title=Company Snapshot |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |access-date=March 3, 2015}}</ref> }}

{{Nihongo|'''Toyobo Co., Ltd.'''|東洋紡績株式会社|Tōyōbōseki Kabushiki-gaisha}} is one of Japan's top makers of fibers and textiles, including synthetic fibers (polyester, nylon and acrylics) and natural fibers, such as cotton and wool.

== History ==

Toyobo was established in 1882 by Eiichi Shibusawa as a cotton-spinning company in a context of post-Meiji Restoration. By the 1930s, Toyobo was the world's largest cotton-spinning company. In the 1960s, the company started to manufacture synthetic fibers and films.<ref name="theworldfolio 3932">{{cite web|url=http://www.theworldfolio.com/interviews/toyobos-turnaround-has-true-japanese-spirit-/3932/|title=Toyobo's turnaround has true Japanese spirit|website=Theworldfolio.com|date=2015|access-date=23 November 2018}}</ref>

In August 2013, Toyobo bought the Spanish company Spinreact for 22.3 million euros.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.finanzas.com/noticias/empresas/20130802/japonesa-toyobo-compra-empresa-2429621.html|title=La japonesa Toyobo compra la empresa bioquímica española Spinreact|website=Finanzas.com|date=2 August 2013|language=es|access-date=23 November 2018}}</ref>

In 2015, Toyobo provided 40% of the yarn for airbags worldwide, and 50% of Japan's food packaging films.<ref name="theworldfolio 3932"/> In March 2017, Toyobo introduced Cocomi, a t-shirt that tracks a driver's heartbeats and activates an alarm if somnolence is detected.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tomsguide.fr/2017/03/18/cocomi-un-t-shirt-qui-vous-empeche-de-vous-endormir-au-volant/|title=Cocomi, un t-shirt qui vous empêche de vous endormir au volant|website=Tomsguide.fr|date=18 March 2017|language=fr|access-date=23 November 2018}}</ref> In August 2017, Toyobo established a new group in Europe, Toyobo Chemicals Europe GmbH, with a focus on marketing specialty chemical products, and a new manufacturing base for airbag fabrics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japanchemicaldaily.com/2017/08/25/toyobo-adds-germany-to-global-network-with-new-manufacturing-base-for-airbag-fabrics/|title=Toyobo Adds Germany to Global Network With New Manufacturing Base for Airbag Fabrics|website=Japanchemicaldaily.com|date=25 August 2017|access-date=23 November 2018}}</ref>

In March 2018, Toyobo paid $66 million to settle a case of defective bulletproof vests sold to the US Government between 2001 and 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Japanese-firm-to-pay-66M-for-selling-defective-bulletproof-vests-to-US/4131521164443/|title=Japanese firm to pay $66M for selling defective bulletproof vests to U.S.|website=Upi.com|date=15 March 2018|author=Ray Downs|access-date=23 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-toyobo-settlement/toyobo-to-pay-66-million-in-u-s-bullet-proof-vest-fraud-case-idUSKCN1GR3C9|title=Toyobo to pay $66 million in U.S. bullet-proof vest fraud case|website=Reuters.com|date=15 March 2018|access-date=23 November 2018}}</ref>

== Activities ==

Toyobo's textiles are designed for clothing, home furnishings, and for industrial uses. Textiles include spandex yarn for apparel, polyurethane fiber for pantyhose, yarns for airbags and tire cords and synthetic fibers for apparel. Toyobo is also engaged in the spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, sewing, and the wholesaling and trading of textiles in Japan and internationally.<ref>{{Cite web |title=東洋紡がグローバル戦略を加速させる 拠点として選んだカタルーニャ州 |url=https://catalonia.com/w/catalonia-the-land-chosen-by-toyobo-as-a-base-to-accelerate-its-global-strategy-japanese-version |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=catalonia.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

Toyobo also manufactures plastic films, and resins. Biochemical products such as reagents, medical products (e.g. fiber membranes for artificial organs), and purification devices are also manufactured by the company.<ref name="BW">{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot_article.asp?ticker=3101:JP |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007112008/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot_article.asp?ticker=3101:JP |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 7, 2012 |title=Company Snapshot |publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek |access-date=March 3, 2015}}</ref>

The company operates across Japan, China, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, United States, and Germany and is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, being a component of the Nikkei 225 stock index.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indexes.nikkei.co.jp/en/nkave/index/component?idx=nk225#03 |title=Components:Nikkei Stock Average |publisher=Nikkei Inc. |access-date=March 3, 2015}}</ref>

==Gallery== {{Gallery |File:TOYOBO Chita Taisho era.jpg|The Toyobo Chita factory in 1926 |File:Toyobo Old Plate.JPG|The nameplate of the former company headquarters |File:個人用防護装備 (8671908864).jpg|JSDF standard '''Personal protective equipment''' (also known informally as ''Type 00'') NBC suit. Produced in cooperation with Nikko Research Co., Ltd. |}}

==See also== {{Portal|Japan|Chemistry|Companies}} *Biodefense

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.toyobo-global.com/ Official global website] {{in lang|en}}

{{Nikkei 225}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Textile companies of Japan Category:Defense companies of Japan Category:Chemical companies of Japan Category:Clothing companies of Japan Category:Disaster preparedness Category:Medical technology companies of Japan Category:Manufacturing companies based in Osaka Category:Japanese companies established in 1882 Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1882 Category:Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Category:Companies in the Nikkei 225 Category:Japanese brands