1926–1999
Shin-Etsu Nitrogen Fertilizer Co., Ltd. was founded in 1926 and in 1927 the Naoetsu plant was constructed for the production of carbide and lime nitrogen fertilizer. In 1938 the first facility of the Gunma Complex was established. The company changed its name to Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. in 1940.[7] In 1945, the company expanded with the acquisition of the Takefu plant.[8]
In 1949, the company shares were listed on the Tokyo stock exchange.[8] The first silicone production facilities were set up in 1953.[9][10] Shin-Etsu established Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. in 1955, which was followed by the establishment of Shin-Etsu Polymer Co., Ltd. in 1960 and two years later the Shin-Etsu Astech Co., Ltd.[8]
The Kashima plant was constructed in 1970 and the following year the company headquarters relocated to the Asahi Seimei Otemachi Building in Ohtemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. In 1972, Shin-Etsu Quartz Products Co., Ltd. was established.[8] In 1973, Shin-etsu established its first U.S.-based company named Shintech, Inc.,[11] and its first Malaysia-based company, S.E.H. Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.[12]
Production at the Shintech Freeport plant began in 1976, and that same year the PVC & Polymer Materials Research Center and the Silicone Electronics Materials Research Center were established.[13]
In 1985, Shin-Etsu established two more companies in the U.S.: K-Bin, Inc. (U.S.A.)[14] and Shin-Etsu Silicones of America, Inc.[15] Expansion in Korea and Taiwan followed with Shin-Etsu Silicone Korea Co., Ltd. in 1986[16] and Shin-Etsu Silicone Taiwan Co., Ltd. in 1987. In 1988, the company set up an Advanced Functional Materials Research Center and established Shin-Etsu (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.[17] In 1996 Shin-Etsu acquired the Australian company Simcoa Operations Pty. Ltd.[6] In 1997, they launched its photoresists business and began production at the Naoetsu Plant in Niigata Prefecture.[18]
